bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The causes of aging and relationship between aging and health expenditure: An econometric causality analysis for Turkey
Authors: Boz Canser , Ozsarı S.Haluk
Published: July 2019

Introduction

Demographic changes since the second half of the last century have led to an aging population, and this is considered an important economic and social problem worldwide. In addition to the social, economic, and political effects of aging, the relationship between aging and health expenditure is also being recognized in recent years. The two main generally accepted underlying causes of aging populations are longer life expectancy and lower fertility. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the main causes of aging and the relationship between health expenditure and aging using causality econometric models on data samples from Turkey.

Methods

The Toda and Yamamoto causality approach, which is currently the preferred method, was chosen to obtain robust results on dual causality relationships between aging, fertility, life expectancy, and health expenditures. The data used in the estimation of causality were obtained from Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) statistics for Turkey, and the E‐Views 8.0 econometric package program was used to predict causality.

Results

According to causality analysis, fertility rate resulted in population aging in Turkey for the period between 1975 and 2016, apart from a one‐way causality between population aging and health expenditure in Turkey.

Conclusion

As aging has multiple social, political, and economic effects, the development and implementation of new policies toward the elderly and aging of population are very important.
Second law analysis for chemically reacting natural convective second‐grade fluid flow between porous parallel plates with Hall and Ion slip
Authors: Ramesh K. , Ojjela Odelu
Published: July 2019

In this article, we performed the entropy generation of free convective chemically reacting second‐grade fluid confined between parallel plates in the influence of the Hall and Ion slip with heat and mass fluxes. Let there be a periodic suction/injection along with the plates, the governing flow field equations are reduced as a set of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations by using appropriate similarity transformations then solved numerically with shooting method based on Runge‐Kutta 4th order scheme. The results are analyzed for velocity in axial and radial directions, temperature distribution, concentration distribution, entropy generation number, Bejan number, mass and heat transfer rates with respect to distinct geometric, and fluid parameters and shown graphically and tables. It is observed that the entropy generation is enhanced with Prandtl number, whereas decreases with a second‐grade parameter, the effects of Hall and Ion slip parameters on velocity components, temperature and entropy generation number are the same. The entropy generation number the fluid is enhanced with the suction‐injection parameter whereas, the concentration of the fluid decreases with the increasing of chemical reaction parameter.
Expanding perspectives: A social inequities lens on intimate partner violence, reproductive justice, and infant mental health
Authors: Grady Gloria , Hinshaw‐Fuselier Sarah , Friar Norah
Published: July 2019

Intimate partner violence (IPV) poses a threat to the attainment of reproductive justice. Women who experience IPV are limited in their ability to parent their children in a secure and nurturing environment, which can have negative effects on the mother and child immediately and long‐term, potentially distressing reproductive well‐being across generations. Societal inequities faced by women, particularly women of color, within education, economic, and legal systems are associated with risk factors for IPV. This article will use national‐ and state‐level data with case examples and the lens of reproductive justice to consider the impact of and potential solutions to historical and institutional inequities related to IPV.
Modeling the conditional distribution of financial returns with asymmetric tails
Authors: Thiele Stephen
Published: July 2019

This paper proposes a conditional density model that allows for differing left/right tail indices and time‐varying volatility based on the dynamic conditional score (DCS) approach. The asymptotic properties of the maximum likelihood estimates are presented under verifiable conditions together with simulations showing effective estimation with practical sample sizes. It is shown that tail asymmetry is prevalent in global equity index returns and can be mistaken for skewness through the center of the distribution. The importance of tail asymmetry for asset allocation and risk premia is demonstrated in‐sample. Application to portfolio construction out‐of‐sample is then considered, with a representative investor willing to pay economically and statistically significant management fees to use the new model instead of traditional skewed models to determine their asset allocation.
Benchmark dose estimation of urinary and blood cadmium as biomarkers of renal dysfunction among 40‐75‐year‐old non‐smoking women in rural areas of southwest China
Authors: Yan Jiuming , Huo Jiao , Li Renjia , Jia Zhenchao , Song Yang , Chen Jinyao , Zhang Lishi
Published: July 2019

This study evaluated the association between urinary cadmium (U‐Cd) and blood Cd (B‐Cd) and several biomarkers of renal dysfunction (α1‐microglobulin [α1‐MG], β2‐microglobulin [β2‐MG], N‐acetyl‐β‐d‐glucosaminidase, metallothionein, retinol‐binding protein and microalbumin [mALB]) and identified the biomarker(s) that was most closely correlated with U‐Cd and B‐Cd among female residents in rural areas of southwest China. U‐Cd, creatinine (Cr), B‐Cd and the above‐mentioned six biomarkers in morning spot urine samples were measured from 288 randomly selected 40‐75‐year‐old non‐smoking women from non‐polluted areas and Cd‐polluted‐areas. The lower 95% confidence limit of the benchmark dose (BMD) corresponding to the 5% (BMDL05) and 10% benchmark response (BMDL10) was calculated with assumed cut‐off values of the 95th and 90th percentile. Among the investigated women, a significant positive association was found among mALB, β2‐MG and U‐Cd as well as B‐Cd. By using the cut‐off value of the 95th percentile, the BMDL05/BMDL10 of U‐Cd and B‐Cd were 4.33/8.89 μg/g Cr for mALB and 1.35/2.77 μg/L for β2‐MG, respectively. The BMDL05/BMDL10 of U‐Cd (B‐Cd) was 2.73/5.60 μg/g Cr (1.00/2.05 μg/L) for mALB, if the cut‐off value was set at the 90th percentile. Therefore, β2‐MG and mALB in urine were good biomarkers for long‐term environmental Cd exposure assessment among the six biomarkers studied for the study pool in southwest China. Our findings may help us to understand the association between nephrotoxicity and Cd exposure, and aid in the decision‐making of authorities for environmental Cd pollution and public health.
The effects of cannabidiol on male reproductive system: A literature review
Authors: Carvalho Renata K. , Andersen Monica L. , Mazaro‐Costa Renata
Published: July 2019

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most abundant phytocannabinoids present in the plant Cannabis sativa (marijuana). There have been several studies of CBD in the last few decades, mainly focused on its neuroprotective properties, particularly after the identification of the endocannabinoid system and its participation in the central nervous system. On the other hand, the peripheral effects of CBD, particularly on reproductive physiology, were also evidenced. A narrative review was conducted using the PubMed database to identify studies that analyzed the pharmacological effects of CBD on the male reproductive system of vertebrates and invertebrates. Thirty‐two citations (in vivo and in vitro) were identified. Among the vertebrates, the studies were carried out with men, monkeys, rats and mice. Studies with invertebrates are centered exclusively on the sea urchin. The CBD treatment periods include mostly acute and subacute evaluations. Exposure to CBD is associated with a reduction in mammalian testis size, the number of germ and Sertoli cells in spermatogenesis, fertilization rates, and plasma concentrations of hypothalamic, pituitary and gonadal hormones. Moreover, chronic doses of CBD have impaired sexual behavior in mice. From the studies identified in this review, it is possible to conclude that CBD has negative effects on the reproductive system of males. However, knowledge is still limited, and additional research is required to elucidate fully the mechanisms of action, as well as the reversibility of CBD effects on the reproductive system.
SARNP, a participant in mRNA splicing and export, negatively regulates E‐cadherin expression via interaction with pinin
Authors: Kang Gyeoung Jin , Park Mi Kyung , Byun Hyun Jung , Kim Hyun Ji , Kim Eun Ji , Yu Lu , Kim Boram , Shim Jae Gal , Lee Ho , Lee Chang Hoon
Published: July 2019

Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with a high mortality rate, which is related to the insufficient number of appropriate biomarkers and targets. Therefore, there is an urgent need to discover appropriate biomarkers and targets for TNBC.

SARNP (Hcc‐1 and CIP29) is highly expressed in several cancers. It binds to UAP56, an RNA helicase component of the TREX complex in messenger RNA (mRNA) splicing and export. However, the role of SARNP in mRNA splicing and export and in the progression of breast cancer, especially of TNBC, remains unknown. Therefore, we examined the role of SARNP in mRNA splicing and export and progression of TNBC.

We confirmed that SARNP binds to UAP56 and Aly and that SARNP overexpression enhances mRNA splicing, whereas its knockdown suppressed mRNA export. The SARNP overexpression induced the proliferation of MCF7 cells, whereas its knockdown induced E‐cadherin expression and downregulated vimentin and N‐cadherin expressions in SK‐BR‐3 and MDA‐MB‐231 cells. SARNP downregulates E‐cadherin expression by interaction with pinin. Mice injected with MDA‐MB‐231shSARNP cells exhibited a significant reduction in tumor growth and lung metastasis compared with those injected with MDA‐MB‐231shCon cells in vivo.

These findings suggested that SARNP is involved in mRNA splicing and export. SARNP maintains mesenchymal phenotype by escaping from inhibitory interaction with pinin leading to the downregulation of E‐cadherin expression.
Pairing People with Products: Anthropomorphizing the Object, Dehumanizing the Person
Authors: Herak Iskra , Kervyn Nicolas , Thomson Matthew
Published: July 2019

We present the first empirical integration of anthropomorphism and dehumanization, two intrinsically linked processes representing the extent to which the concept of humanness is activated for a given target. Across several experiments, we demonstrate that pairing a person and object in an ad, while focusing respondent attention on the object, leads to its being anthropomorphized and evaluated better compared to presenting it alone. However, compared to presenting a person alone, the same pairing leads to inferior evaluations of the person through a process of dehumanization. We rule out two alternative explanations for these effects, namely the transfer of an object's qualities to the person and consumption associations, and conduct a post‐test that provides additional support for our proposed activation/inhibition of humanness account. Finally, we inspect several moderators, finding that anthropomorphism only occurs with moderately and highly functional objects and dehumanization occurs irrespective of the person's gender or fame. By incorporating the literature on dehumanization, we propose new research questions to motivate future inquiry.
Muscle‐specific changes in protein synthesis with aging and reloading after disuse atrophy
Authors: Miller Benjamin F. , Baehr Leslie M. , Musci Robert V. , Reid Justin J. , Peelor Frederick F. , Hamilton Karyn L. , Bodine Sue C.
Published: July 2019

Background

Successful strategies to halt or reverse sarcopenia require a basic understanding of the factors that cause muscle loss with age. Acute periods of muscle loss in older individuals have an incomplete recovery of muscle mass and strength, thus accelerating sarcopenic progression. The purpose of the current study was to further understand the mechanisms underlying the failure of old animals to completely recover muscle mass and function after a period of hindlimb unloading.

Methods

Hindlimb unloading was used to induce muscle atrophy in Fischer 344–Brown Norway (F344BN F1) rats at 24, 28, and 30 months of age. Rats were hindlimb unloaded for 14 days and then reloaded at 24 months (Reloaded 24), 28 months (Reloaded 28), and 24 and 28 months (Reloaded 24/28) of age. Isometric torque was determined at 24 months of age (24 months), at 28 months of age (28 months), immediately after 14 days of reloading, and at 30 months of age (30 months). During control or reloaded conditions, rats were labelled with deuterium oxide (D2O) to determine rates of muscle protein synthesis and RNA synthesis.

Results

After 14 days of reloading, in vivo isometric torque returned to baseline in Reloaded 24, but not Reloaded 28 and Reloaded 24/28. Despite the failure of Reloaded 28 and Reloaded 24/28 to regain peak force, all groups were equally depressed in peak force generation at 30 months. Increased age did not decrease muscle protein synthesis rates, and in fact, increased resting rates of protein synthesis were measured in the myofibrillar fraction (Fractional synthesis rate (FSR): %/day) of the plantaris (24 months: 2.53 ± 0.17; 30 months: 3.29 ± 0.17), and in the myofibrillar (24 months: 2.29 ± 0.07; 30 months: 3.34 ± 0.11), collagen (24 months: 1.11 ± 0.07; 30 months: 1.55 ± 0.14), and mitochondrial (24 months: 2.38 ± 0.16; 30 months: 3.20 ± 0.10) fractions of the tibialis anterior (TA). All muscles increased myofibrillar protein synthesis (%/day) in Reloaded 24 (soleus: 3.36 ± 0.11, 5.23 ± 0.19; plantaris: 2.53 ± 0.17, 3.66 ± 0.07; TA: 2.29 ± 0.14, 3.15 ± 0.12); however, in Reloaded 28, only the soleus had myofibrillar protein synthesis rates (%/day) >28 months (28 months: 3.80 ± 0.10; Reloaded 28: 4.86 ± 0.19). Across the muscles, rates of protein synthesis were correlated with RNA synthesis (all muscles combined, R2 = 0.807, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

These data add to the growing body of literature that indicate that changes with age, including following disuse atrophy, differ by muscle. In addition, our findings lead to additional questions of the underlying mechanisms by which some muscles are maintained with age while others are not.
Comparison of microcomputed tomography, cone beam tomography, stereomicroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy techniques for detection of microcracks on root dentin and effect of different apical sizes on microcrack formation
Authors: Çapar İsmail D. , Gök Tuba , Uysal Banu , Keleş Ali
Published: July 2019

The aim of the study was to compare different imaging methods in the diagnosis of microcracks on root dentin and to evaluate the frequency of dentinal microcracks observed after root canal preparation using the ProTaper Universal (PTU) system of different sizes. A total of 30 mandibular molars' mesial roots were scanned with microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT) and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging methods before instrumentation. Root canal instrumentation was performed up to PTU F2 and F4 files. After instrumentation stages, the roots were scanned again with micro‐CT and then with CBCT in same parameters. All roots were sectioned horizontally at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mm from the apices of the specimens. The sections were imaged under a stereomicroscope. Finally, imaging of the sections was done by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Statistical data analysis of instrumentation steps was performed using Friedman and Wilcoxon tests, and the data of imaging methods were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests (p = .05). Instrumentation with the PTU system up to F2 and F4 files significantly increased the number of microcracks compared with preoperative samples according to micro‐CT imaging (p < .05). For detecting microcracks on the root dentin, there were no statistically significant differences between micro‐CT (43.9%) and stereomicroscopy (45.8%) (p < .05). SEM showed significantly higher percentage of microcracks (88.3%) (p > .05). No microcrack was observed using the CBCT method. There were no statistically differences between micro‐CT and stereomicroscopy. SEM showed more dentinal microcracks while no microcrack was observed with CBCT.
Surface roughness and filler particles characterization of resin‐based composites
Authors: Ruivo Melissa A. , Pacheco Rafael R. , Sebold Maicon , Giannini Marcelo
Published: July 2019

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surface roughness (Ra), and the morphology and composition of filler particles of different composites submitted to toothbrushing and water storage. Disc‐shaped specimens (15 mm × 2 mm) were made from five composites: two conventional (Z100™, and Filtek™ Supreme Ultra Universal, 3M), one “quick‐cure” (Estelite ∑ Quick, Tokuyama), one fluoride‐releasing (Beautiful II, Shofu), and one self‐adhering (Vertise Flow, Kerr) composite. Samples were finished/polished using aluminum oxide discs (Sof‐Lex, 3M), and their surfaces were analyzed by profilometry (n = 5) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM; n = 3) at 1 week and after 30,000 toothbrushing cycles and 6‐month water storage. Ra data were analyzed by two‐way analysis of variance and Tukey's test (α = 0.05). Filler particles morphology and composition were analyzed by SEM and X‐ray dispersive energy spectroscopy, respectively. Finishing/polishing resulted in similar Ra for all the composites, while toothbrushing and water storage increased the Ra of all the tested materials, also changing their surface morphology. Beautifil II and Vertise Flow presented the highest Ra after toothbrushing and water storage. Filler particles were mainly composed of silicon, zirconium, aluminum, barium, and ytterbium. Size and morphology of fillers, and composition of the tested composites influenced their Ra when samples were submitted to toothbrushing and water storage.
Characterization of Albanian water frog, Pelophylax shqipericus, sperm traits and morphology, by using phase contrast microscopy
Authors: Turani Blerta , Aliko Valbona , Shkembi Entela
Published: July 2019

Mature spermatozoa traits and morphology of endangered Albanian water frog, Pelophylax shqipericus, have been characterized for the first time through phase contrast microscopy, as part of successful implementation of in vitro fertilization technique for this species. The basic morphology of P. shqipericus spermatozoa consists of an elongated, thick, smooth‐edged, and solid‐staining head, continuing with a thin and long tail which usually extends 2.48 times the head length. The acrosome was not clearly discernible so the measurements were done on the head as a whole, while the middle section was better visible. Average length of head, including the acrosome and midsection was estimated to be 11.78 μm ± 0.32, while the tail length resulted 29.24 ± 1.75 μm. The average thickness of the head was shown to be 3.45 μm. The total sperm length resulted to be 41.02 ± 1.83 μm. The average sperm concentration was estimated of 25.5 × 106/ml. Sperm amount, survival rate and motility were also measured. The sperm survival rate was maximal immediately after preparation of the suspension and tended to decrease over time of storage, reaching 50% after 72 hr. Decreased sperm motility seemed to follow the same trend as sperm viability. Sperm traits resulted to be very similar both in size and in shape with those of “Lessonae” frog group, one of the lineages of Western Palearctic species complex, suggesting a strong phylogenetic relationship among these species.
Interspecific, ontogenetic, and sexual variation in ozopore morphology among cosmetid harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones, Laniatores)
Authors: Townsend Victor R. , Teevan‐Kamhawi Saoirse , Calpo Devin
Published: July 2019

The ozopores of cosmetid harvestmen rest upon lateral projections of the carapace, have simple or highly reduced channels, and are partially obscured by enlarged dorsal processes associated with coxae I and II. Rather than use scent gland secretions to form a chemical shield on the dorsum, the cosmetid harvestman exhibits a unique defensive behavior known as “leg dabbing” in which the distal tip of tarsus I or II is dipped into fluid that accumulate at the base of coxa II and the droplet on the tarsus is pointed toward the predator. Relatively little is known about interspecific variation in ozopore morphology among cosmetid harvestmen. In this study, we used scanning electron microscopy to examine the ozopores of males and females of nine species as well as those of antepenultimate nymphs for two species. Among adults, we found differences between species in the shapes of the ozopores (round or subtriangular), the morphology of the dorsal and lateral channels (if present), and the relative size, shape and armature of the dorsal posterior process (dpp) of coxa I and the dorsal anterior process (dap) of coxa II. Our observations suggest that the morphology of dpp I and dap II could be sources for systematic characters in future phylogenetic studies of the Cosmetidae. We observed ontogenetic differences but relatively little intersexual variation in the morphology of the ozopore. The ozopores of nymphs are generally more oval than those of adults and the opening of the ozopore of the nymph is less obstructed, if at all, by the dorsal coxal processes of legs I–II. These morphological differences suggest that nymphs may use scent gland secretions in a manner different from that of adults.
Dynamic contrast‐enhanced and diffusion‐weighted MRI of invasive breast cancer for the prediction of sentinel lymph node status
Authors: Choi Eun Jung , Youk Ji Hyun , Choi Hyemi , Song Ji Soo
Published: July 2019

Background

Although sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the current standard for identifying lymph metastasis in breast cancer patients, there are complications of SLNB.

Purpose

To evaluate preoperative dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE‐MRI) and diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) of invasive breast cancer for predicting sentinel lymph node metastasis.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

In all, 309 patients who underwent clinically node‐negative invasive breast cancer surgery

Field Strength/Sequence

3.0T, DCE‐MRI, DWI.

Assessment

We collected clinicopathologic variables (age, histologic and nuclear grade, extensive intraductal carcinoma component, lymphovascular invasion, and immunohistochemical profiles) and preoperative MRI features (tumor size, background parenchymal enhancement, internal enhancement, adjacent vessel sign, whole‐breast vascularity, initial enhancement pattern, kinetic curve types, quantitative kinetic parameters, tumoral apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC], peritumoral maximal ADC, and peritumoral‐tumoral ADC ratio).

Statistical Tests

Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to determine independent variables associated with SLN metastasis, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was analyzed for those variables.

Results

41 (13.3%) of the patients showed SLN metastasis. With MRI, tumor size (odds ratio [OR], 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–1.17), heterogeneous (OR, 5.33; 95% CI, 1.71–16.58), and rim (OR, 15.54; 95% CI, 2.12–113.72) enhancement and peritumoral–tumoral ADC ratio (OR, 72.79; 95% CI, 7.15–740.82) were independently associated with SLN metastasis. Clinicopathologic variables independently associated with SLN metastasis included age (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.92–0.99) and CD31 (OR, 2.90; 95% CI, 1.04–8.92). The area under the curve (AUC) of MRI features (0.80; 95% CI, 0.73–0.87) was significantly higher than for clinicopathologic variables (0.68; 95% CI, 0.60–0.77; P = 0.048) and was barely below statistical significance for combined MRI features with clinicopathologic variables (0.84; 95% CI 0.78–0.90, P = 0.057).

Data Conclusion

Preoperative internal enhancement on DCE‐MRI and peritumoral‐tumoral ADC ratio on DWI might be useful for predicting SLN metastasis in patients with invasive breast cancer.

Level of Evidence: 3

Technical Efficacy: Stage 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:615–626.
Building tourism organizational resilience to crises and disasters: A dynamic capabilities view
Authors: Jiang Yawei , Ritchie Brent W. , Verreynne Martie‐Louise
Published: July 2019

The importance of resilience for tourism organizations facing crises and disasters is indisputable. Yet little is known about how these organizations become resilient. This paper proposes that dynamic capabilities provide a mechanism that enables tourism organizations to respond to disruptive environmental changes through a process of routine transformation, resource allocation, and utilization. The resulting theoretical framework takes a processual view to show how an organization's existing operational routines transform into new ones that are resilient to disruptive events, enabled by dynamic capabilities and slack resources. The paper outlines six research propositions and suggests methods for future empirical research.
Effect of male age structure on reproduction in white‐tailed deer
Authors: Diefenbach Duane R. , Alt Gary L. , Wallingford Bret D. , Rosenberry Christopher S. , Long Eric S.
Published: July 2019

Selective harvest regimes that create female‐biased sex ratios can potentially lead to delayed breeding, reduced breeding synchrony, reduced productivity, and a female‐biased sex ratio of offspring. These resulting changes in breeding behavior and population dynamics have potential to adversely affect population growth. In 2002, Pennsylvania implemented harvest regulation changes that reduced deer density (increased harvest of antlerless deer) and increased the number and age of antlered deer (implemented antler point restriction regulations) that resulted in a less female‐biased sex ratio. We monitored date of conception, productivity (embryos/female), and sex ratio of embryos during 1999–2006 to test if timing of breeding occurred earlier and with greater synchrony, if productivity of females increased, and if the sex ratio of offspring would shift towards more males. Deer density decreased 23% and the adult (≥1.5 yr old) sex ratio declined from 2.30 to 1.95 females/male. The ratio of ≥2.5‐year‐old to 1.5‐year‐old males shifted towards more older males (1:3.7 in 2002 to 1:1.59 in 2006) and the ≥2.5‐year‐old male population increased from 41,853 during 1999–2001 to 54,064 by 2006. We found no evidence of any change in the timing or variability of date of conception, productivity, or offspring sex ratio. We conclude that harvest regulation changes implemented in Pennsylvania, USA, were insufficient to affect timing of breeding or population dynamics and that efforts by managers to identify a desired sex ratio or manipulate sex ratios to achieve management goals on a statewide scale will be challenging. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.
Factors affecting captive whooping crane egg fertility: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Brown Megan E. , Keefer Carol L. , Songsasen Nucharin
Published: July 2019

The whooping crane (Grus americana) has been managed in captivity since the 1960s following a substantial genetic bottleneck in the wild population. Through majorex situconservation efforts, there are 158 whooping cranes managed in North American institutions and chicks are released annually into the wild. Current reintroduction goals for the whooping crane however, are impeded by poor reproduction within theex situpopulation, in part because of low egg fertility. Development of improved management techniques to overcome low egg fertility requires a better understanding of factors that influence egg fertility. We collected data for eggs laid at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center from 2005–2014 (n = 438 eggs;n = 23 pairs). We constructed 5 sets of generalized linear mixed‐models, with a Bernoulli‐distributed response variable (fertile or infertile), to address the effects of egg‐specific variables (month laid, sequence, and clutch order of the egg), life‐history events of the male and female (age, rearing method, wing condition, age at first pairing, age at current pairing, and female age at first laying), pair‐specific characteristics (kinship, years paired, chick‐rearing experience, and previous pairings), and captive management decisions (inclusion in the artificial insemination program and pair experience chick‐rearing) on the probability of egg fertility. Our results indicate that female‐specific factors (especially age, age at current pairing, and wing status) and pair‐specific factors of kinship, chick‐rearing experience, copulation, and inclusion in the artificial insemination program influenced fertile egg production. Specifically, the younger a female is when paired with her current social mate, the higher probability that her eggs will be fertile. Furthermore, high kinship reduced fertility, whereas chick‐rearing experience and artificial insemination of females with a donor male other than her social mate increased fertility. Further research on mate selection and reproductive mechanisms is needed to better understand egg laying and egg fertility in the whooping crane. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.
Land‐use change from cropland to orchard leads to high nitrate accumulation in the soils of a small catchment
Authors: Gao Jingbo , Lu Yongli , Chen Zhujun , Wang Lei , Zhou Jianbin
Published: July 2019

Land‐use change from cereals to fruit orchards usually results in a high nutrient surplus in soil. The excessive accumulation of nitrogen (N) in soil, mainly as nitrate, leached from the root zone may serve as a long‐term source of surface or groundwater pollution. The N balances and nitrate accumulation in the soil profiles of cereal fields and kiwifruit orchards in the Yujiahe catchment, Shaanxi, China, were compared. Excessive N fertilisation resulted in an excessive N surplus (1,133 kg N ha−1 yr−1) in orchards (8‐times higher than that in cereal fields). More than 77.5% of nitrate in the soil profile (0–400 cm) of the orchards was below a soil depth of 100 cm. The average accumulated nitrate within a profile 0–400 cm of orchards was 3,288 kg N ha−1, which was 16‐fold higher than that of cereal fields. The accumulated nitrate in soil profiles on the downslope (5,959 kg N ha−1) was approximately 2 times higher than that of the upslope in the same sloping orchards. The accumulated nitrate in soil profiles at the lowland zone of the catchment was higher than that of the upland zone. Excessive nitrate moves not only vertically downwards to deeper soil depth but also laterally into lower elevations at both field and catchment scales. The total stored nitrate in the upper soil profile of 400 cm in the catchment was 464.8 Mg N, whereas 94.8% (440.8 Mg N) was in orchards. Thus, changing land use from cereal crops to orchards leads to a high nitrate accumulation in the catchment.
Experience with key indicator cases among otolaryngology residents
Authors: O'Brien Daniel C. , Kellermeyer Brian , Chung Jeffson , Carr Michele M.
Published: July 2019

Objective

To describe the resident experience with respect to key indicator cases for each year of training.

Study Design

Multi‐institution, cross‐sectional assessment.

Methods

Using an electronic survey, current otolaryngology residents were solicited to complete a survey regarding their experiences with the key indicator cases to that point. The survey was sent to this cohort in the winter of 2017–2018.

Results

Three hundred and three residents responded, with 293 completing the survey. Twenty‐three percent were PGY1, 19% PGY2, 21% PGY3, 18% PGY4, and 19% PGY5 or higher. The majority of residents progress from resident assistant as a PGY2, to resident surgeon as a PGY3 and self‐assessed competent surgeon as a PGY4 for the majority of the key indicator cases. Less than 50% of the surveyed PGY5 residents had reached independent practice in all the key indicator cases, with stapedectomy (16%), rhinoplasty (18%), and paramedian forehead flap (14.5%) being the cases least frequently performed independently. Ninety‐five percent of the respondent residents felt their program provided adequate training, but 20% of the respondents were either unsure or believed that they would be unable to perform all the key indicator cases by the completion of their training.

Conclusions

The majority of otolaryngology residents feel confident in their training, but experience with certain cases lags behind and may not currently be taught as resident level cases. These findings raise the question of whether the current key indicator cases are the best option for assessing breadth and depth of residency training.

Level of Evidence

NA
Subtle biogeochemical regimes in the Indian Ocean revealed by spatial and diel frequency of Prochlorococcus haplotypes
Authors: Larkin Alyse A. , Garcia Catherine A. , Ingoglia Kimberly A. , Garcia Nathan S. , Baer Steven E. , Twining Benjamin S. , Lomas Michael W. , Martiny Adam C.
Published: July 2019

While the majority of studies use the environment to describe microbial populations, the high diversity of microbes can conversely be used as a resource to understand subtle environmental variability. Here, we used a high‐resolution spatial and temporal analysis of Prochlorococcus sp. in the Eastern Indian Ocean to determine whether ecotypes and microdiverse taxa can be used to identify fine‐scale biogeochemical regimes in this under‐studied region. A total of 246 DNA samples were collected every 4–6 h in April 2016 on GO‐SHIP cruise I09N, which transected gyre, equatorial, and monsoonal ecosystems between Western Australia and the Bay of Bengal. Using amplicon sequencing of the highly variable rpoC1 marker, we found that the region was largely dominated by the Prochlorococcus HL‐II clade. Conserved single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to identify four microdiverse haplotypes, or SNP‐delineated taxa, within the HL‐II clade of Prochlorococcus. The haplotypes showed regional patterns of relative gene count abundance that were significantly correlated with environmental conditions. Additionally, we used nonlinear least squares models to fit the sine wave function to our data and demonstrate that the haplotypes show distinct patterns in relative diel frequency, providing evidence that these microdiverse populations are ecologically and evolutionarily distinct. Overall, we show how the integration of a genomics data set into a biogeochemical framework can reveal a more nuanced understanding of a complex ocean basin.
Investigating the marketing impact of consumers’ connectedness to celebrity endorsers
Authors: Tran Gina A. , Yazdanparast Atefeh , Strutton David
Published: July 2019

Consumers enjoy following famous media personalities, discovering details about their habits, food preferences, or designer brands that they wear. Consumers model their consumption behaviors based on their favorite celebrities’ preferences. Marketers are aware of such celebrity admiration and frequently use celebrities as part of marketing communication strategies. Grounded in parasocial relationship and social connectedness theories, this study tests a model of connectedness to the celebrity, attitude toward the celebrity, receptivity toward the celebrity‐endorsed message, and purchase intentions of the celebrity‐endorsed market offering. These relationships were investigated using structural equation modeling. The findings indicate an individual's level of connectedness to their favorite celebrity is positively linked with both their receptivity toward the celebrity‐endorsed message and purchase intentions of the celebrity‐endorsed market offering. On the theoretical side, the integration of parasocial relationship and social connectedness theories explain the processes through which celebrity endorsements impact consumers’ attitudes and behaviors. On the practical side, the findings suggest marketers should carefully choose the best celebrity endorsers for advertisements after considering how constituents from within their key target markets are likely to connect with the chosen celebrity. However, beyond consumers’ connectedness to the celebrity, the findings also suggest that receptivity toward the celebrity‐endorsed message is an essential link to purchase intentions of the endorsed offering.
Evaluating HIFU‐mediated local drug release using thermal strain imaging: Phantom and preliminary in‐vivo studies
Authors: Lee Fu‐Feng , He Qiong , Gao Jing , Pan Anni , Sun Suhui , Liang Xiaolong , Luo Jianwen
Published: July 2019

Purpose

High‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)‐mediated drug release becomes a promising therapeutic technique for treatment of cancer, which has merits of deep penetration, noninvasive approach and nonionizing radiation. However, conventional thermocouple‐based approach for treatment monitoring would encounter big challenges such as the viscous heating artifact and difficulty in monitoring in the deep region. In this study, we develop an effective method based on thermal strain imaging (TSI) for the evaluation of HIFU‐mediated drug release.

Methods

Both phantom experiments and preliminary animal experiments were performed to investigate the feasibility of the proposed approach. Doxorubicin (DOX)‐loaded cerasomes (HIFU and temperature‐sensitive cerasomes, HTSCs) were prepared. In the phantom experiments, the HTSC solution is contained inside a cylindrical chamber within a tissue‐mimicking phantom. In the animal experiments, the HTSCs are intravenously injected into tumor‐bearing mice. An HIFU transducer is used to trigger DOX release from the HTSCs within the phantom or mice, and TSI is performed during HIFU heating. In the phantom experiments, the accuracy of temperature estimation using TSI is validated by measuring with a thermocouple. In animal experiments, the spatial consistency between the distribution of DOX released within the tumor and the location of the heating region estimated by TSI is validated using a spectrofluorophotometer.

Results

In the phantom experiments, the HTSCs show a burst release of DOX when the temperature of the HTSC solution estimated by TSI reaches about 42°C, which is in agreement with the condition for drug release from the HTSCs. The temperature estimation using TSI has high accuracy with error below 2.5%. In animal experiments, fluorescence imaging of the tumor validates that the heating region of HIFU could be localized by the low‐strain region of TSI.

Conclusion

The present framework demonstrates a reliable and effective solution to the evaluation of HIFU‐mediated local drug delivery.
Understanding Fish Assemblage Structure in Lentic Ecosystems: Relative Effects of Abiotic Factors and Management Legacies
Authors: Fischer Jesse R. , Quist Michael C.
Published: July 2019

We investigated associations of fish assemblages and habitat characteristics (e.g., morphology and water chemistry) from 45 natural lakes and reservoirs in Iowa to determine whether species or trophic guild composition and environmental correlations were concordant between waterbodies of different origins. Overall, fish assemblage composition between natural lakes and reservoirs was consistently dissimilar based on a permutational multivariate ANOVA. Species composition from nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordinations for reservoirs was correlated with a variety of limnological and physical characteristics, whereas species composition and trophic composition of natural lakes were weakly associated with habitat characteristics. Species richness was positively related to waterbody and watershed size for reservoirs but not for natural lakes. Conversely, species richness was negatively correlated with increasing eutrophic conditions in natural lakes but not in reservoirs. Overall, distinct differences in assemblage composition were observed between natural and artificial lentic ecosystems and may have resulted from underlying differences in limnological, physical, and anthropogenic influences between systems. Dissimilar management legacies between waterbody types, such as limited or no stocking of nonrecreationally important species and the use of piscicides, may have additionally had overriding effects on the observed assemblage–environmental relationships. For instance, lower trophic richness and species richness in reservoirs appeared to have resulted from replacement of a diversity of small-bodied native species by relatively few commonly stocked sport fishes. Our results emphasize the need to consider waterbody origin and the potential influence of historical or current management strategies on fish assemblage characterization and subsequent inferences made from environmental correlations.
Elevated Insulin and Insulin Resistance are Associated with Altered Myelin in Cognitively Unimpaired Middle‐Aged Adults
Authors: O’Grady J. Patrick , Dean Douglas C. , Yang Kao Lee , Canda Cristybelle‐Marie , Hoscheidt Siobhan M. , Starks Erika J. , Merluzzi Andrew , Hurley Samuel , Davenport Nancy J. , Okonkwo Ozioma C. , Anderson Rozalyn M. , Asthana Sanjay , Johnson Sterling C. , Alexander Andrew L. , Bendlin Barbara B.
Published: July 2019

Objective

Insulin regulates metabolism and influences neural health. Insulin resistance (IR) and type II diabetes have been identified as risk factors for Alzheimer disease (AD). Evidence has also suggested that myelinated white matter alterations may be involved in the pathophysiology of AD; however, it is unknown whether insulin or IR affect the underlying myelin microstructure. The relationships between insulin, IR, and myelin were examined, with the hypothesis that IR would be associated with reduced myelin.

Methods

Cognitively unimpaired adults enriched for risk factors for AD underwent multicomponent driven equilibrium single pulse observation of T1 and T2 imaging, a myelin‐sensitive neuroimaging technique. Linear regressions were used to test the relationship between homeostatic model assessment of IR, insulin, and myelin water fraction (MWF) as well as interactions with APOE ε4.

Results

Both IR and insulin level were associated with altered myelin content, wherein a significant negative association with MWF was observed in white matter regions and a positive association with MWF was observed in gray matter.

Conclusions

The results suggest that insulin and IR influence white matter myelination in a cognitively unimpaired population. Additional studies are needed to determine the extent to which this may contribute to cognitive decline or vulnerability to neurodegenerative disease.
Thermoplastic foaming mechanism and Pb2+ adsorption of poly(vinyl alcohol)/shell powder porous composite
Authors: Pu Lian , Xie Yeping , Qiu Wenting , Li Li
Published: July 2019

Combining the respective advantages of PVA and shell in wastewater treatment, poly(vinyl alcohol)/shell powder (PVA/SP) porous composite suitable for the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater was prepared via thermoplastic foaming technology using water as both plasticizer and physical blowing agent. The effects of SP content on the thermoplastic foaming mechanism including interactions among components, water states and water evaporation behaviors, as well as cell structure and Pb2+ adsorption property of the porous composite were studied. The results showed that SP could form different hydrogen bonding or coordination interactions with water and PVA, making free water in system reduced and nonfreezing water increased, thus realizing the controllable foaming of water and avoiding the formation of the big cells caused by intensive evaporation of water. SP particles could also act as heterogeneous nucleating agents to effectively increase the number of heterogeneous nucleating points in the system, resulting in the formation of denser and more uniform cells. With the increase of SP content, the adsorption capacity of porous composite on Pb2+ increased, and reached the maximum at 10 wt%, that is, 31.1 mg/g, higher than that of pure SP powders, that is, 23.4 mg/g, ascribing to the good dispersion of SP in PVA matrix as well as the high hydrophilicity of PVA porous material.
Balance between bonding and deposition during fused deposition modeling of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene composites
Authors: Zhou Ying‐Guo , Zou Jia‐Rui , Wu Hai‐Hong , Xu Bai‐Ping
Published: July 2019

To investigate the mechanical properties of fused deposition modeling (FDM) parts, a compatibilizer and nanoparticles were used as additions in Polycarbonate and Acrylonitrile‐Butadiene‐Styrene (PC/ABS) blends, and four PC/ABS composites were used to fabricate the FDM samples in this study. Two simplified deposition modes of the FDM process were proposed and used to investigate the bonding effect and deposition effect. The bonding effects of the four materials were first investigated using model I of the FDM process. Then, a linear relationship between the bonding strength and the porosity was found, and the optimal processing conditions that produced the best bonding strength were determined. These optimal processing conditions were then used in mode II of the FDM process to fabricate four samples. The mechanical properties and structural characterizations of these samples were studied using tensile tests, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). One interesting phenomenon observed from the tensile tests was that the necking of the PC/ABS FDM sample can spread throughout the total gauge length and measure more than 100% of the strain when the compatibilizer and the nanoparticles were added, which can be attributed to a balance between bonding properties and ductility. The results verify the applicability of PC/ABC composites to FDM technology and suggest that compatibilizers and nanoparticles are suitable candidates to improve the bonding strength and the deposition effect of PC/ABS FDM parts. In conclusion, the balance between bonding properties and ductility is key to improving the tensile behaviors of PC/ABS FDM parts by adjusting the compatibility and porosity of blended PC/ABS samples.
A cost effective and facile approach to prepare beadless polycarbonate nanofibers with ultrafine fiber morphology
Authors: Baby Thomas , Jose E Tomlal , Thomas P.C. , Mathew Jomit T.
Published: July 2019

Preparing defect free nanofibers with average diameter well below 100 nm is a challenge to researchers by electrospinning technology. In the present contribution, the electrospinning method was utilized to prepare beadless polycarbonate (PC) nanofibers with average diameter 90 nm using comparatively less toxic and suitable solvents in a convenient way. Spinning PC with pure dichloromethane (DCM) and also with 1:1 mixture of DCM and N,N dimethylformamide under the same spinning parameters with varying PC concentration has very much helped to establish the effect of solvents on fiber formation. This study also proved the impact of solution concentration, viscosity, and solution conductivity on the formation of beadless ultrafine PC fibers and subsequently on the bead density and average fiber diameter. The appropriate proportion of solvents under suitable spinning parameters has helped to minimize the quantity of PC during the formation of bead free nanofibers by electrospinning. The ultrafine, uniform, and beadless morphology of the electrospun PC fibers can be utilized for various nanotechnology advancements. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:1799–1809, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers