bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tailorable Membrane‐Penetrating Nanoplatform for Highly Efficient Organelle‐Specific Localization
Authors: Zhang Xin , Wang Chunfei , Feng Gang , Jiang Jianxia , Hu Jiwen , du Rietz Anna , Brommesson Caroline , Zhang Xuanjun , Ma Yuguang , Roberg Karin , Zhang Fengling , Shen Han‐Ming , Uvdal Kajsa , Hu Zhangjun
Published: June 2021

Given the breadth of currently arising opportunities and concerns associated with nanoparticles for biomedical imaging, various types of nanoparticles have been widely exploited, especially for cellular/subcellular level probing. However, most currently reported nanoparticles either have inefficient delivery into cells or lack specificity for intracellular destinations. The absence of well‐defined nanoplatforms remains a critical challenge hindering practical nano‐based bio‐imaging. Herein, the authors elaborate on a tailorable membrane‐penetrating nanoplatform as a carrier with encapsulated actives and decorated surfaces to tackle the above‐mentioned issues. The tunable contents in such a versatile nanoplatform offer huge flexibility to reach the expected properties and functions. Aggregation‐induced emission luminogen (AIEgen) is applied to achieve sought‐after photophysical properties, specific targeting moieties are installed to give high affinity towards different desired organelles, and critical grafting of cell‐penetrating cyclic disulfides (CPCDs) to promote cellular uptake efficiency without sacrificing the specificity. Hereafter, to validate its practicability, the tailored nano products are successfully applied to track the dynamic correlation between mitochondria and lysosomes during autophagy. The authors believe that the strategy and described materials can facilitate the development of functional nanomaterials for various life science applications.
Bipolar Organic Polymer for High Performance Symmetric Aqueous Proton Battery
Authors: Sun Tianjiang , Du Haihui , Zheng Shibing , Shi Jinqiang , Yuan Xuming , Li Lin , Tao Zhanliang
Published: June 2021

Bipolar electroactive organic molecules receive an increasing research attention as electrode materials for rechargeable batteries due to their flexibility, controllability, and environmental friendliness. While its application for symmetric aqueous proton batteries is still in its infancy. Herein, a symmetric aqueous proton battery (APB) based on a bipolar poly(aminoanthraquinone) (PNAQ) is developed. The conductivity and solubility of PNAQ are significantly improved by introducing a polyaniline‐like skeleton. It is demonstrated that the quinone‐based moieties allow H+ reversible uptake/removal and the benzene ring‐based units achieve HSO4– adsorption/desorption. The fabricated symmetric APB exhibits a high discharge capacity of 85.3 mA h g–1 at 5 C and excellent rate performance (77 mA h g–1 at 100 C). The good rate performance benefits from capacitance‐like ions diffusion mechanism. Furthermore, surprisingly, the system can also operate at −70 °C and shows superior electrochemical performance (60.4 mA h g–1 at −70 °C).
Industrial Application of Bottom–Blown CO2 in Basic Oxygen Furnace Steelmaking Process
Authors: Feng Chao , Zhu Rong , Liu Runzao , Dong Kai , Wei Guangsheng
Published: June 2021

A significant amount of CO2 is emitted and utilized in the production processes engaged by iron and steel enterprises. Herein, the feasibility and principles of CO2 participation in the steelmaking process are analyzed, and an industrial examination of bottom‐blown CO2 smelting in a 120 t converter is performed; this serves to summarize and verify the metallurgical advantages of CO2 participation in the converter steelmaking process. The injection of CO2 improves the effects of dephosphorization and denitrification, reduces the end‐point oxygen content of molten steel, diminishes the consumption of the slagging agent, and contributes to a reduction in production costs and improvement in product quality. This study analyzes two different recycling paths of CO2 in iron and steel enterprises, providing a new mechanism for CO2 emission reduction.
Characterization and Assessment of Mold Flux for Continuous Casting of Liquid Steel Using an Inverse Mold Simulator
Authors: Kamaraj Ashok , Tripathy Snehashish , Chalavadi Ganesh , Sahoo Preeti P. , Misra Siddhartha
Published: June 2021

This investigation discusses the experimental methods to characterize and evaluate the mold flux performance during continuous casting of liquid steel. The mold fluxes are initially characterized by the conventional techniques for particle size, phase identification, phase transformation during the heating process, viscosity, break temperature, and other high‐temperature properties. Subsequently, the initial solidification behavior of the peritectic and interstitial free (IF) steel in the presence of respective molten mold flux has been simulated using an in‐house designed and developed inverse mold simulator. This simulator takes into account the physical, thermal, and fluid properties of mold flux, liquid steel to be cast, and casting parameters (casting speed, mold oscillation frequency, and stroke length), to assess the performance of liquid steel casting in the continuous caster. A suitable mathematical model has also been developed to predict the transient heat flux and hot face surface temperature of mold at the meniscus level. The current study successfully concludes the importance of a mold simulator along with the conventional characterization techniques to completely evaluate the performance of any mold flux.
The Synergistic Reinforcing Effects of Nano‐Diamond and Chitosan‐Grafted MWNTs in Starch Films
Authors: Gou Zhenqiong
Published: June 2021

In this work, new ways to reinforce the performance of starch by incorporating nano‐diamond (ND) and chitosan‐grafted MWNTs (MWNTs‐CS) are developed. The composites are characterized by tensile properties, dispersion properties, thermal analysis, fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffractions (XRD) studies, and water vapor permeability (WVP) tests. Loading of ND not only improves the solubility, but also increases the tensile strength, elongation at break and Young's modulus of the starch composite films, which increases by 235.82%, 78.98%, and 976.51%, respectively. In particular, the synergy effects of Young's modulus achieves the effect of “1 + 1 > 2” which may be attributed to the fact that ND can be adsorbed on the surface of MWNTs by π‐π interactions, which prevents aggregation of MWNTs. Meanwhile, hydrogen bonds between grafted CS and the starch matrix are responsible for generating effective load transfer between ND/MWNTs‐CS and the starch matrix, resulting in the simultaneously increased strength and toughness of the nanocomposites. Furthermore, composite film containing ND and MWNTs‐CS shows the lowest water vapor permeability among the composite films prepared in this study.
Quasi‐static test and strut‐and‐tie modeling of precast concrete shear walls with unconnected vertically distributed reinforcements
Authors: Xiao Xu‐Wen , Cao Zhi‐Wei , Zhang Shi‐Qian , Liao Xian‐Dong
Published: June 2021

To solve the fabrication problems of traditional precast shear walls caused by too many connections joints, a new type of precast shear wall with unconnected vertically distributed reinforcements and concealed bracings is developed in this paper. Four full‐scale shear walls, including one cast‐in‐place specimen and three precast specimens, were tested under low‐cycle lateral loading conditions to evaluate the seismic performance of the new type of precast shear wall. The test results showed that the loading capacity and energy dissipation of the new type of precast shear wall were comparable to those of the cast‐in‐place specimen; however, the failure mode was similar to the damage mechanism of an infilled wall frame, not the traditional bending‐shear mode of shear walls. Then, a new strut‐and‐tie model considering dowel action was proposed for this new type of precast shear wall. Finally, a parametric study was conducted by finite element analysis to determine a reasonable value of the effective strength coefficient for the strut‐and‐tie model. Good agreement was achieved between the test and model results.
Searching for lepton portal dark matter with colliders and gravitational waves
Authors: Liu Jia , Wang Xiao-Ping , Xie Ke-Pan
Published: June 2021

Abstract

We study the lepton portal dark matter (DM) model in which the relic abundance is determined by the portal coupling among the Majorana fermion DM candidate χ, the singlet charged scalar mediator S± and the Standard Model (SM) right-handed lepton. The direct and indirect searches are not sensitive to this model. This article studies the lepton portal coupling as well as the scalar portal coupling (between S± and SM Higgs boson), as the latter is generally allowed in the Lagrangian. The inclusion of scalar portal coupling not only significantly enhances the LHC reach via the gg → h* → S+S− process, but also provides a few novel signal channels, such as the exotic decays and coupling devi- ations of the Higgs boson, offering new opportunities to probe the model. In addition, we also study the Drell-Yan production of S+S− at future lepton colliders, and find out that the scenario where one S± is off-shell can be used to measure the lepton portal coupling directly. In particular, we are interested in the possibility that the scalar potential triggers a first-order phase transition and hence provides the stochastic gravitational wave (GW) signals. In this case, the terrestrial collider experiments and space-based GW detectors serve as complementary approaches to probe the model.
DNA damage as a mechanism of neurodegeneration in ALS and a contributor to astrocyte toxicity
Authors: Kok Jannigje Rachel , Palminha Nelma M. , Dos Santos Souza Cleide , El-Khamisy Sherif F. , Ferraiuolo Laura
Published: June 2021

Increasing evidence supports the involvement of DNA damage in several neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Elevated levels of DNA damage are consistently observed in both sporadic and familial forms of ALS and may also play a role in Western Pacific ALS, which is thought to have an environmental cause. The cause of DNA damage in ALS remains unclear but likely differs between genetic subgroups. Repeat expansion in the C9ORF72 gene is the most common genetic cause of familial ALS and responsible for about 10% of sporadic cases. These genetic mutations are known to cause R-loops, thus increasing genomic instability and DNA damage, and generate dipeptide repeat proteins, which have been shown to lead to DNA damage and impairment of the DNA damage response. Similarly, several genes associated with ALS including TARDBP, FUS, NEK1, SQSTM1 and SETX are known to play a role in DNA repair and the DNA damage response, and thus may contribute to neuronal death via these pathways. Another consistent feature present in both sporadic and familial ALS is the ability of astrocytes to induce motor neuron death, although the factors causing this toxicity remain largely unknown. In this review, we summarise the evidence for DNA damage playing a causative or secondary role in the pathogenesis of ALS as well as discuss the possible mechanisms involved in different genetic subtypes with particular focus on the role of astrocytes initiating or perpetuating DNA damage in neurons.
Global experience with PSMA-based alpha therapy in prostate cancer
Authors: Sathekge Mike M. , Bruchertseifer Frank , Vorster Mariza , Morgenstern Alfred , Lawal Ismaheel O.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This review discusses the current state of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-based alpha therapy of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). With this in-depth discussion on the growing field of PSMA-based alpha therapy (PAT), we aimed to increase the interactions between basic scientists and physician–scientists in order to advance the field.

Methods

To achieve this, we discuss the potential, current status, and opportunities for alpha therapy and strategies, attempted to date, and important questions that need to be addressed. The paper reviews important concepts, including whom to treat, how to treat, what to expect regarding treatment outcome, and toxicity, and areas requiring further investigations.

Results

There is much excitement about the potential of this field. Much of the potential exists because these therapies utilize unique mechanisms of action, difficult to achieve with other conventional therapies.

Conclusion

A better understanding of the strengths and limitations of PAT may help in creating an effective therapy for mCRPC and design a rational combinatorial approach to treatment by targeting different tumor pathways.
Identifying Policy-relevant Indicators for Assessing Landscape Vegetation Patterns to Inform Planning and Management on Multiple-use Public Lands
Authors: Carter Sarah K. , Burris L. E. , Domschke Christopher T. , Garman Steven L. , Haby Travis , Harms Benjamin R. , Kachergis E. , Litschert S. E. , Miller Kevin H.
Published: June 2021

Understanding the structure and composition of landscapes can empower agencies to effectively manage public lands for multiple uses while sustaining land health. Many landscape metrics exist, but they are not often used in public land decision-making. Our objectives were to (1) develop and (2) apply a process for identifying a core set of indicators that public land managers can use to understand landscape-level resource patterns on and around public lands. We first developed a process for identifying indicators that are grounded in policy, feasible to quantify using existing data and resources, and useful for managers. We surveyed landscape monitoring efforts by other agencies, gathered science and agency input on monitoring goals, and quantified the prevalence of potential indicators in agency land health standards to identify five landscape indicators: amount, distribution, patch size, structural connectivity, and diversity of vegetation types. We then conducted pilot applications in four bureau of land management (BLM) field offices in Arizona, California, and Colorado to refine procedures for quantifying the indicators and assess the utility of the indicators for managers. Results highlighted the dominance of upland and the limited extent of riparian/wetland vegetation communities, moderate connectivity of priority vegetation patches, and lower diversity of native vegetation types on BLM compared to non-BLM lands. Agency staff can use the indicators to inform the development of quantitative resource management objectives in land use plans, evaluate progress in meeting those objectives, quantify potential impacts of proposed actions, and as a foundation for an all-lands approach to landscape-level management across public lands.
The Association Between Treatment Interval and Survival in Patients With Colon or Rectal Cancer: A Systematic Review
Authors: Franssen Ruud F. W. , Strous Maud T. A. , Bongers Bart C. , Vogelaar F. Jeroen , Janssen‐Heijnen Maryska L. G.
Published: June 2021

Background

Surgery for colon or rectal cancer is associated with a high incidence of complications, especially in patients with a low aerobic fitness. Those patients might benefit from a comprehensive preoperative workup including prehabilitation. However, time between diagnosis and treatment is often limited due to current treatment guidelines. To date, it is unclear whether the treatment interval can be extended without compromising survival.

Methods

A systematic review concerning the association between treatment intervals and survival in patients who underwent elective curative surgery for colon or rectal cancer was performed. A search up to December 2020 was conducted in PubMed, Cinahl and Embase. Original research articles were eligible. Quality assessment was performed using the Downs and Black checklist.

Results

Eleven observational studies were included (897 947 patients). In colon cancer, treatment intervals that were statistically significant associated with reduced overall survival or cancer‐specific survival ranged between > 30 and > 84 days. In rectal cancer, only one out of four studies showed that treatment intervals > 49 days was associated with reduced cancer‐specific survival.

Conclusions

This systematic review identified that studies investigating the association between treatment intervals and survival are heterogeneous with regard to treatment interval definitions, treatment interval time intervals and used outcome measures. These aspects need standardization before a reliable estimate of an optimal treatment interval can be made. In addition, further research should focus on establishing optimal treatment intervals in patients at high risk for postoperative complications, as particularly these patients might benefit from extended diagnosis to treatment intervals permitting comprehensive preoperative preparation.
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy has A Positive Impact on Subclinical Hypothyroidism Among Obese Patients: A Prospective Study
Authors: Salman Mohamed AbdAlla , Rabiee Ahmed , Salman Ahmed , G.Qassem Mohamed , A.Ameen Mahmoud , Hassan Ahmed M. , Soliman Ahmed , Shaaban Hossam , GabAllah Ghada M. K. , A.Ismail Ahmed , Omar Haitham S. E.
Published: June 2021

Background

The effect of bariatric surgery on postoperative thyroid function remains incompletely understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the changes in thyroid functions after gastric sleeve operation for morbidly obese Egyptian patients.

Methods

This was a prospective study that recruited 128 patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy through the period from December 2016 to April 2020. We measured thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxin (FT4), and free triiodothyronine. Subclinical hypothyroidism was defined by a TSH level > 4.5 mIU/L but a normal FT4 level. All patients were followed for 12 months after the procedure.

Results

Preoperatively, 30 (23.4%) patients had subclinical hypothyroidism. The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism decreased significantly to reach 7.8% at the end of follow‐up (p < 0.001). None of the patients developed de novo hypothyroidism at the end of follow‐up. Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism were more likely to be females (p = 0.037) and had significantly higher waist circumference (p < 0.001), DBP (p = 0.02), serum cholesterol (p < 0.001), and serum triglyceride (p < 0.001). However, patients with subclinical hypothyroidism at the end of follow‐up had significantly higher BMI at the end of the sixth month (p = 0.048). Similarly, patients with subclinical hypothyroidism at the end of follow‐up had significantly higher serum cholesterol (p = 0.002), LDL, (p = 0.038), and serum triglyceride (p < 0.001) at the end of the sixth months of follow‐up. A similar trend was noted at the end of the 12th month. The preoperative value of serum TSH correlated significantly with serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Conclusion

The positive effect of the LSG procedure on the hypothyroid bariatric population, including enhanced thyroid function, was demonstrated.
Relaxation Limit from the Quantum Navier–Stokes Equations to the Quantum Drift–Diffusion Equation
Authors: Antonelli Paolo , Cianfarani Carnevale Giada , Lattanzio Corrado , Spirito Stefano
Published: June 2021

The relaxation time limit from the quantum Navier–Stokes–Poisson system to the quantum drift–diffusion equation is performed in the framework of finite energy weak solutions. No assumptions on the limiting solution are made. The proof exploits the suitably scaled a priori bounds inferred by the energy and BD entropy estimates. Moreover, it is shown how from those estimates the Fisher entropy and free energy estimates associated to the diffusive evolution are recovered in the limit. As a byproduct, our main result also provides an alternative proof for the existence of finite energy weak solutions to the quantum drift–diffusion equation.
Clinical outcome of CIDP one year after start of treatment: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Bus S. R. M. , Broers M. C. , Lucke I. M. , Bunschoten C. , van Lieverloo G. G. A. , Adrichem M. E. , van Veen R. , Wieske L. , Lingsma H. F. , Goedee H. S. , van der Pol W. L. , van Schaik I. N. , Van Doorn P. A. , Jacobs B. C. , Eftimov F. ,   for the ICOS Consortium
Published: June 2021

Objective

To assess clinical outcome in treatment-naive patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP).

Methods

We included adult treatment-naive patients participating in the prospective International CIDP Outcome Study (ICOS) that fulfilled the European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society (EFNS/PNS) diagnostic criteria for CIDP. Patients were grouped based on initial treatment with (1) intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), (2) corticosteroid monotherapy or (3) IVIg and corticosteroids (combination treatment). Outcome measures included the inflammatory Rasch-built overall disability scale (I-RODS), grip strength, and Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score. Treatment response, treatment status, remissions (improved and untreated), treatment changes, and residual symptoms or deficits were assessed at 1 year.

Results

Forty patients were included of whom 18 (45%) initially received IVIg, 6 (15%) corticosteroids, and 16 (40%) combination treatment. Improvement on ≥ 1 of the outcome measures was seen in 31 (78%) patients. At 1 year, 19 (48%) patients were still treated and fourteen (36%) patients were in remission. Improvement was seen most frequently in patients started on IVIg (94%) and remission in those started on combination treatment (44%). Differences between groups did not reach statistical significance. Residual symptoms or deficits ranged from 25% for neuropathic pain to 96% for any sensory deficit.

Conclusions

Improvement was seen in most patients. One year after the start of treatment, more than half of the patients were untreated and around one-third in remission. Residual symptoms and deficits were common regardless of treatment.
Non-simple conformal loop ensembles on Liouville quantum gravity and the law of CLE percolation interfaces
Authors: Miller Jason , Sheffield Scott , Werner Wendelin
Published: June 2021

We study the structure of the Liouville quantum gravity (LQG) surfaces that are cut out as one explores a conformal loop-ensemble $$\hbox {CLE}_{\kappa '}$$

CLE

κ
′

for $$\kappa '$$

κ
′

in (4, 8) that is drawn on an independent $$\gamma $$
γ
-LQG surface for $$\gamma ^2=16/\kappa '$$

γ
2

=
16
/

κ
′

. The results are similar in flavor to the ones from our companion paper dealing with $$\hbox {CLE}_{\kappa }$$

CLE
κ

for $$\kappa $$
κ
in (8/3, 4), where the loops of the CLE are disjoint and simple. In particular, we encode the combined structure of the LQG surface and the $$\hbox {CLE}_{\kappa '}$$

CLE

κ
′

in terms of stable growth-fragmentation trees or their variants, which also appear in the asymptotic study of peeling processes on decorated planar maps. This has consequences for questions that do a priori not involve LQG surfaces: In our paper entitled “CLE Percolations” described the law of interfaces obtained when coloring the loops of a $$\hbox {CLE}_{\kappa '}$$

CLE

κ
′

independently into two colors with respective probabilities p and $$1-p$$

1
-
p

. This description was complete up to one missing parameter $$\rho $$
ρ
. The results of the present paper about CLE on LQG allow us to determine its value in terms of p and $$\kappa '$$

κ
′

. It shows in particular that $$\hbox {CLE}_{\kappa '}$$

CLE

κ
′

and $$\hbox {CLE}_{16/\kappa '}$$

CLE

16
/

κ
′

are related via a continuum analog of the Edwards-Sokal coupling between $$\hbox {FK}_q$$

FK
q

percolation and the q-state Potts model (which makes sense even for non-integer q between 1 and 4) if and only if $$q=4\cos ^2(4\pi / \kappa ')$$

q
=
4

cos
2

(
4
π
/

κ
′

)

. This provides further evidence for the long-standing belief that $$\hbox {CLE}_{\kappa '}$$

CLE

κ
′

and $$\hbox {CLE}_{16/\kappa '}$$

CLE

16
/

κ
′

represent the scaling limits of $$\hbox {FK}_q$$

FK
q

percolation and the q-Potts model when q and $$\kappa '$$

κ
′

are related in this way. Another consequence of the formula for $$\rho (p,\kappa ')$$

ρ
(
p
,

κ
′

)

is the value of half-plane arm exponents for such divide-and-color models (a.k.a. fuzzy Potts models) that turn out to take a somewhat different form than the usual critical exponents for two-dimensional models.
Age-specific reproduction in female pied flycatchers: evidence for asynchronous aging
Authors: Fay Rémi , Ravussin Pierre-Alain , Arrigo Daniel , von Rönn Jan A. C. , Schaub Michael
Published: June 2021

Age-related variation in reproductive performance is central for the understanding of population dynamics and evolutionary processes. Our understanding of age trajectories in vital rates has long been limited by the lack of distinction between patterns occurring within- and among-individuals, and by the lack of comparative studies of age trajectories among traits. Thus, it is poorly understood how sets of demographic traits change within individuals according to their age. Based on 40 years of monitoring, we investigated age-related variation in five reproductive traits in female pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) including laying date, clutch size, brood size, nest success (probability that a nest produces at least one chick) and egg success of successful nests (proportion of eggs resulting in a chick). We disentangled within- from among-individual processes and assessed the relative contribution of within-individual age-specific changes and selective appearance and disappearance. Finally, we compared the aging pattern among these five reproductive traits. We found strong evidence for age-specific performance including both early-life improvement and late-life decline in all reproductive traits but the egg success. Furthermore, the aging patterns varied substantially among reproductive traits both for the age of peak performance and for the rates of early-life improvement and late-life decline. The results show that age trajectories observed at the population level (cross-sectional analysis) may substantially differ from those occurring at the individual level and illustrate the complexity of variation in aging patterns across traits.
The Role of Food Web Interactions in Multispecies Fisheries Management: Bio-economic Analysis of Salmon, Herring and Grey Seal in the Northern Baltic Sea
Authors: Lai Tin-Yu , Lindroos Marko , Grønbæk Lone , Romakkaniemi Atso
Published: June 2021

Multispecies bio-economic models are useful tools to give insights into ecosystem thinking and ecosystem-based management. This paper developed an age-structured multispecies bio-economic model that includes the food web relations of the grey seal, salmon, and herring, along with salmon and herring fisheries in the Baltic Sea. The results show that the increasing seal population influences salmon fisheries and stock, but the impacts on the harvest are stronger than on the stock if the targeted management policies are obeyed. If seal population growth and a low herring stock occur simultaneously, the salmon harvest could face a serious threat. In addition, scenarios of the multispecies management approach in this paper reveal a benefit that our model can evaluate the performance of different fisheries with identical or different management strategies simultaneously. The results show the most profitable scenario is that both fisheries pursuit aggregated profits and reveal a trade-off between herring fisheries and salmon fisheries. Our model indicates that the herring harvest level and the approaches to managing herring fisheries can influence the performance of salmon fisheries. The study also demonstrates a way to develop a multispecies bio-economic model that includes both migratory fish and mammalian predators.
Biological responses in pesticide exposed lizards (Podarcis siculus)
Authors: Simbula Giulia , Moltedo Ginevra , Catalano Barbara , Martuccio Giacomo , Sebbio Claudia , Onorati Fulvio , Stellati Luca , Bissattini Alessandra Maria , Vignoli Leonardo
Published: June 2021

The release of contaminants as herbicides, fungicides and insecticides into the environment has been listed as one of the six major contributors to the global decline of reptiles. Although reptiles may face severe risk from contaminants due to their ecology and physiology, they are currently less studied than other vertebrate groups. In the present work, we investigated if and how different types of field treatment (conventional and organic) affected the health status of Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus) individuals in central Italy. We chose a multi-biomarker approach that evaluated the biological responses of lizards to the treatment by means of AChE activity in the nervous system, biotransformation enzymes activities and oxidative stress in the liver, micronuclei frequency measured in the erythrocytes, and rate of intestinal parasitic infection. Our findings showed evidence of effects of treatment in conventional areas and between sexes with significant oxidative stress due to hydroxyl radicals, that caused DNA damage. No difference of intestinal parasite infections was found among treatments. Podarcis siculus seems to be a good bioindicator in ecotoxicological studies and potentially in risk assessment of pesticides, although further analyses in laboratory and in the field are needed to achieve more accurate quantification of specific pesticide effects in relation to known exposure history and to understand if other mechanisms were involved in the toxicity and detoxification process of pesticides for this species.
Mode of action evaluation for reduced reproduction in Daphnia pulex exposed to the insensitive munition, 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitroguanidine (MeNQ)
Authors: Gust Kurt A. , Lotufo Guilherme R. , Barker Natalie D. , Ji Qing , May Lauren K.
Published: June 2021

The US Department of Defense (DOD) is developing insensitive munitions (IMs) that are resistant to unintended detonation to protect warfighters. To enable material life-cycle analysis for the IM, 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitroguanidine (MeNQ), ecotoxicological impacts assessment was required. A previous investigation of MeNQ exposures in Daphnia pulex revealed concentration-responsive decreases in reproduction relative to controls (0 mg/L) across a 174, 346, 709, 1385, and 2286 mg/L exposure range. The present study used those exposures to conduct global transcriptomic expression analyses to establish hypothetical mode(s) of action underlying inhibited reproduction. The number of significantly affected transcripts and the magnitude of fold-change differences relative to controls tended to increase with increasing MeNQ concentration where hierarchical clustering analysis identified separation among the “low” (174 and 346 mg/L) and “high” (709, 1385, and 2286 mg/L) exposures. Vitellogenin is critical to Daphnia reproductive processes and MeNQ exposures significantly decreased transcriptional expression for vitellogenin-1 precursor at the lowest exposure level (174 mg/L) with benchmark dose (BMD) levels closely tracking concentrations that caused inhibited reproduction. Additionally, juvenile hormone-inducible protein, chorion peroxidase, and high choriolytic enzyme transcriptional expression were impacted by MeNQ exposure having potential implications for egg production / maturation and overall fecundity. In concert with these effects on specific genes involved in Daphnia reproductive physiology, MeNQ exposures caused significant enrichment of several canonical-pathways responsible for metabolism of cellular energy substrates where BMD levels for transcriptional expression were observed at ≤100 mg/L. These observations imply possible effects on whole-organism energy budgets that may also incur indirect costs on reproduction.
Population improvement and synthetic cultivar production in forage kale (Brassica oleracea L.)
Authors: Bradshaw John E.
Published: June 2021

Experimental results are brought together to demonstrate that forage kale population improvement involving full-sib and selfed families can be done on an annual cycle, followed by production of a synthetic cultivar. Furthermore, this new breeding method compares favourably with the two successful methods used to date, namely triple-cross hybrid cultivars from inbreeding and crossbreeding programmes and open-pollinated cultivars from population improvement programmes. The key findings were that natural vernalization of kale in south east Scotland occurred by mid-December so that plants could be pollinated in a glasshouse with heating and lighting by the end of February and seed harvested by the end of May. The resulting full-sib or selfed families could be assessed in a field transplant trial in the same year, from June to November, thus completing an annual cycle. Self-pollination resulted in shorter plants with lower fresh-weight, dry-matter and digestible organic-matter yields, and undesirably higher contents of S-methylcysteine sulphoxide, the haemolytic anaemia factor, and the goitrogenic thiocyanate ion. As a consequence of digestible organic-matter yield being reduced by as much as 22%, the estimated optimum number of selfed parents in a synthetic cultivar was four to eight. Synthetic cultivars are expected to yield as well as triple-cross hybrids as there was no reduction in yield when the latter were open-pollinated.
Rupture and Continuity: Abortion, the Medical Profession, and the Transitional State—A Polish Case Study
Authors: Krajewska Atina
Published: June 2021

Taking Poland as a case study, this article examines the sociological and historical-institutional factors that determine the relationship between the process of medical professionalisation and reproductive rights in transitional societies. Focusing on three periods in Polish history, (a) Partition era (1772–1918), (b) the Second Polish Republic (1918–1939), and (c) the post-war period (1945–1989), it identifies ruptures and continuities that have shaped the development of the Polish medical profession and its attitude towards abortion care today. Using insights from feminist historical institutionalism, abortion studies, and the sociology of professions, the article applies the concept of ‘dialectical transformations’ to explain institutional and policy reproduction and change over time. It shows how professional and legal institutions are often transferred from one systemic context to another by individuals or organisations whose positions move from opposition to dominance. Understanding such processes is especially important in light of the retrenchment of reproductive rights across the globe.
Doing community geography
Authors: Fischer Heather , Block Daniel , Bosse Amber , Hawthorne Timothy L. , Jung Jin-Kyu , Pearsall Hamil , Rees Amanda , Shannon Jerry
Published: June 2021

Community Geography offers researchers, community groups, and students opportunities to engage in action oriented applied geographical research. Creating and sustaining these research programs can be challenging, programs can involve many partners from both academic and the community, have different goals and purposes, and utilize a variety of methods to perform research. In this paper we offer a framework of three primary overarching principles for implementing CG projects; (1) Who, (2) Why, and (3) How. (1) “Who” describes who is involved in CG, including researchers, community partners, academic institutions, (2) “Why” describes the justifications and benefits of taking this approach. (3) “How” explains how CG borrows methodologies from many disciplines within geography and beyond. Our examples are not exhaustive; rather, they serve as starting points to inspire researchers interested in CG.
Domestic and international climate policies: complementarity or disparity?
Authors: Peterson Lauri
Published: June 2021

Climate change is a global crisis that requires countries to act on both domestic and international levels. This paper examines how climate policies in these two arenas are related and to what extent domestic and international climate ambitions are complementary or disparate. While scholarly work has begun to assess the variation in overall climate policy ambition, only a few studies to date have tried to explain whether internationally ambitious countries are ambitious at home and vice versa. According to the common view, countries that are more ambitious at home can also be expected to be more ambitious abroad. Many scholars, however, portray the relationship instead as disparate, whereby countries need to walk a tightrope between the demands of their domestic constituencies on the one hand and international pressures on the other, while preferring the former over the latter. This study uses quantitative methods and employs data from the OECD DAC dataset on climate finance to measure international climate ambitions. Overall, the present work makes two major contributions. First, it provides evidence that international climate financing ambition is complementary to domestic climate ambition. Second, the article identifies the conditional effect of domestic ambition—with regard to responsibility, vulnerability, carbon-intensive industry and economic capacity—on international climate ambition.
A Balancing Act: Working and Caring for a Child with Cancer
Authors: Hjelmstedt Sofia K. , Forinder Ulla M. , Lindahl Norberg Annika M. , Hovén Emma I. M.
Published: June 2021

Parenting a child with cancer creates numerous additional care demands that may lead to increased difficulties in balancing work and family responsibilities. Still, there is limited knowledge of how parents cope with both parenthood and paid work after a child’s cancer diagnosis. The aim of the study was to explore mothers’ and fathers’ experiences of balancing the dual roles of work and parenthood following a child’s cancer diagnosis. Nine focus groups with in total 32 parents of children with cancer in Sweden were conducted. The data was analysed using qualitative content analysis. Three categories were identified: Shifts in the importance of the parent role and the work role, Influence of context and conditions on the balance of roles, and Long-term unbalance of roles. Parents expressed an increased appreciation of time spent with family, but also emphasized the importance of work to counterbalance the sometimes overwhelming parenting demands. The pre-existing financial situation, work situation, and employer behaviour were important factors influencing the parents’ ability to balance work and family. Traditional gender roles influenced how couples divided responsibilities and reflected on their experiences. Mothers and fathers were also met with different expectations, which highlights the need for the healthcare to consider their communication with caregivers. Importantly, the parents expressed how the child’s illness affected their ability to balance work and family for a long time, while the understanding and support from others had steadily declined. Enabling parents to care for their ill child without sacrificing their own career is of utmost importance, and future research should focus on identifying which factors facilitate for parents to achieve a sustainable work-life balance.
Enlargement of apartments in socialist housing estates in Skopje under transition: The tension between individual preferences and collective action
Authors: Mariotti Jasna , Hess Daniel Baldwin
Published: June 2021

The post-socialist urban restructuring of Skopje, North Macedonia has been characterized by significant changes in the built fabric of the city, resulting from the political, economic and societal processes following the dissolution of Yugoslavia. In early 1990s and post-privatization, there was a dynamic transformation of the city’s housing stock in post-WWII prefabricated apartment buildings. Flat owners in socialist-era housing estates in Skopje modified their apartments by expanding and enclosing balconies, thus gaining more living space. Garages were converted into shops and ground-floor and first-floor apartments were renovated into offices, resulting in commercialization of previous residential space. To better understand the spatial disorder triggered by transformation of housing estates during the lengthy transition from a centrally-planned system to a market economy, this article evaluates various spontaneous and planned practices of transformation of residential space in housing estates in post-socialist Skopje. We analyze these changing practices of transformation through fieldwork and focus group discussions with residents. We also review archival material and administrative and legal documents, including municipal master plans and national planning laws and decisions related to housing estates in post-1991 Skopje. Findings emphasize the complex interplay between many actors, ideologies and interests that shape the experience of urban life in post-socialist Skopje, evidenced by outcomes related to housing choice and renovation practice, especially the enclosure of balconies for providing more living space. Such interventions are viewed as important steps towards improving living conditions in prefabricated apartment buildings in Skopje. Individual decisions about apartment renovation affect urban planning at the neighborhood level, and the findings from this research thus inform residential mobility and neighborhood-level strategic decision making. The aim is to help neighborhoods—built in an earlier socio-political era under a central planning system—to adapt to future demands.
Metal salts as dopants for ZnO ceramics-thermogravimetry coupled with mass spectrometry studies
Authors: Wiecinski Piotr , Wieclaw-Midor Anna
Published: June 2021

The paper presents results concerning thermal decomposition of copper II salts (acetylacetonate, acetate monohydrate and nitrate trihydrate) in synthetic air and argon flow. Thermogravimetry tests coupled with mass spectrometry were performed in temperature range of 25–1300 °C. The influence of salt addition on the rheological properties and sintering behaviour of ceramic samples was then investigated. The microstructure evolution based on light and scanning electron microscopies coupled with stereological methods was described. The performed investigations revealed not only the differences in thermal decomposition of examined salts but also differences in the phenomena related to the oxidation and reduction processes of copper products. The atmosphere has also influenced the mechanisms of salts decomposition as well as further changes in decomposition products. Moreover, the presence of ZnO powder has changed the thermal decomposition process of copper II acetylacetonate. The investigations showed that acetates and nitrates can be efficient in homogeneous distribution of small amounts of metal additives in the ZnO-based suspensions. Higher concentrations of these type of salts lead to the increase of viscosity due to the fact that acetates and nitrates increase the ionic strength in the slurry. On the other hand, acetylacetonates do not disturb the stability of the slurries. However, they are characterized by low water solubility and thus homogenous distribution of small amount of these dopants is more difficult. The addition of copper increased the grain size of the sintered ZnO samples. The copper was not segregated at grain boundaries in the form of oxide, it diffused into ZnO matrix.
Consequences of ignoring variable and spatially autocorrelated detection probability in spatial capture-recapture
Authors: Moqanaki Ehsan M. , Milleret Cyril , Tourani Mahdieh , Dupont Pierre , Bischof Richard
Published: June 2021

Context

Spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models are increasingly popular for analyzing wildlife monitoring data. SCR can account for spatial heterogeneity in detection that arises from individual space use (detection kernel), variation in the sampling process, and the distribution of individuals (density). However, unexplained and unmodeled spatial heterogeneity in detectability may remain due to cryptic factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic to the study system. This is the case, for example, when covariates coding for variable effort and detection probability in general are incomplete or entirely lacking.

Objectives

We identify how the magnitude and configuration of unmodeled, spatially variable detection probability influence SCR parameter estimates.

Methods

We simulated SCR data with spatially variable and autocorrelated detection probability. We then fitted an SCR model ignoring this variation to the simulated data and assessed the impact of model misspecification on inferences.

Results

Highly-autocorrelated spatial heterogeneity in detection probability (Moran’sI= 0.85–0.96), modulated by the magnitude of the unmodeled heterogeneity, can lead to pronounced negative bias (up to 65%, or about 44-fold decrease compared to the reference scenario), reduction in precision (249% or 2.5-fold) and coverage probability of the 95% credible intervals associated with abundance estimates to 0. Conversely, at low levels of spatial autocorrelation (median Moran’sI= 0), even severe unmodeled heterogeneity in detection probability did not lead to pronounced bias and only caused slight reductions in precision and coverage of abundance estimates.

Conclusions

Unknown and unmodeled variation in detection probability is liable to be the norm, rather than the exception, in SCR studies. We encourage practitioners to consider the impact that spatial autocorrelation in detectability has on their inferences and urge the development of SCR methods that can take structured, unknown or partially unknown spatial variability in detection probability into account.
Cloning and Functional Analysis of Rat Tweety-Homolog 1 Gene Promoter
Authors: Gorniak-Walas Malgorzata , Nizinska Karolina , Lukasiuk Katarzyna
Published: June 2021

Tweety-homolog 1 protein (Ttyh1) is abundantly expressed in neurons in the healthy brain, and its expression is induced under pathological conditions. In hippocampal neurons in vitro, Ttyh1 was implicated in the regulation of primary neuron morphology. However, the mechanisms that underlie transcriptional regulation of the Ttyh1 gene in neurons remain elusive. The present study sought to identify the promoter of the Ttyh1 gene and functionally characterize cis-regulatory elements that are potentially involved in the transcriptional regulation of Ttyh1 expression in rat dissociated hippocampal neurons in vitro. We cloned a 592 bp rat Ttyh1 promoter sequence and designed deletion constructs of the transcription factors specificity protein 1 (Sp1), E2F transcription factor 3 (E2f3), and achaete-scute homolog 1 (Ascl1) that were fused upstream of a luciferase reporter gene in pGL4.10[luc2]. The luciferase reporter gene assay showed the possible involvement of Ascl1, Sp1, and responsive cis-regulatory elements in Ttyh1 expression. These findings provide novel information about Ttyh1 gene regulation in neurons.