bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Natural Polymer Captor for Immobilizing Polysulfide/Polyselenide in Working Li–SeS2 Batteries
Authors: Zhang Yin , Wang Menglei , Guo Yi , Huang Lingzhi , Wang Boya , Wei Yunhong , Jing Peng , Zhang Yueying , Zhang Yun , Wang Qian , Sun Jingyu , Wu Hao
Published: April 2021

SeS2 has become a promising cathode material owing to its enhanced electrical conductivity over sulfur and higher theoretical specific capacity than selenium; however, the working Li–SeS2 batteries have to face the practical challenges from the severe shuttling of soluble dual intermediates of polysulfide and polyselenide, especially in high-SeS2-loading cathodes. Herein, a natural organic polymer, Nicandra physaloides pectin (NPP), is proposed to serve as an effective polysulfide/polyselenide captor to address the shuttling issues. Informed by theoretical calculations, NPP is competent to provide a Lewis base-based strong binding interaction with polysulfides/polyselenides via forming lithium bonds, and it can be homogeneously deposited onto a three-dimensional double-carbon conductive scaffold to finally constitute a polysulfide/polyselenide-immobilizing interlayer. Operando spectroscopy analysis validates the enhanced polysulfide/polyselenide trapping and high conversion efficiency on the constructed interlayer, hence bestowing the Li–SeS2 cells with ultrahigh rate capability (448 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1), durable cycling lifespan (≈ 0.037% capacity attenuation rate per cycle), and high areal capacity (> 6.5 mAh cm−2) at high SeS2 loading of 15.4 mg cm−2. Importantly, pouch cells assembled with this interlayer exhibit excellent flexibility, decent rate capability with relatively low electrolyte-to-capacity ratio, and stable cycling life even under a low electrolyte condition, promising a low-cost, viable design protocol toward practical Li–SeS2 batteries.
Environmentally Friendly and Multifunctional Shaddock Peel-Based Carbon Aerogel for Thermal-Insulation and Microwave Absorption
Authors: Gu Weihua , Sheng Jiaqi , Huang Qianqian , Wang Gehuan , Chen Jiabin , Ji Guangbin
Published: April 2021

Highlights

The eco-friendly shaddock peel-derived carbon aerogels were prepared by a freeze-drying method.

Multiple functions such as thermal insulation, compression resistance and microwave absorption can be integrated into one material-carbon aerogel.

Novel computer simulation technology strategy was selected to simulate significant radar cross-sectional reduction values under real far field condition.

.

Eco-friendly electromagnetic wave absorbing materials with excellent thermal infrared stealth property, heat-insulating ability and compression resistance are highly attractive in practical applications. Meeting the aforesaid requirements simultaneously is a formidable challenge. Herein, ultra-light carbon aerogels were fabricated via fresh shaddock peel by facile freeze-drying method and calcination process, forming porous network architecture. With the heating platform temperature of 70 °C, the upper surface temperatures of the as-prepared carbon aerogel present a slow upward trend. The color of the sample surface in thermal infrared images is similar to that of the surroundings. With the maximum compressive stress of 2.435 kPa, the carbon aerogels can provide favorable endurance. The shaddock peel-based carbon aerogels possess the minimum reflection loss value (RLmin) of − 29.50 dB in X band. Meanwhile, the effective absorption bandwidth covers 5.80 GHz at a relatively thin thickness of only 1.7 mm. With the detection theta of 0°, the maximum radar cross-sectional (RCS) reduction values of 16.28 dB m2 can be achieved. Theoretical simulations of RCS have aroused extensive interest owing to their ingenious design and time-saving feature. This work paves the way for preparing multi-functional microwave absorbers derived from biomass raw materials under the guidance of RCS simulations.
A review of machine learning experiments in equity investment decision-making: why most published research findings do not live up to their promise in real life
Authors: Buczynski Wojtek , Cuzzolin Fabio , Sahakian Barbara
Published: April 2021

The numerical nature of financial markets makes market forecasting and portfolio construction a good use case for machine learning (ML), a branch of artificial intelligence (AI). Over the past two decades, a number of academics worldwide (mostly from the field of computer science) produced a sizeable body of experimental research. Many publications claim highly accurate forecasts or highly profitable investment strategies. At the same time, the picture of real-world AI-driven investments is ambiguous and conspicuously lacking in high-profile success cases (while it is not lacking in high-profile failures). We conducted a literature review of 27 academic experiments spanning over two decades and contrasted them with real-life examples of machine learning-driven funds to try to explain this apparent contradiction. The specific contributions our article will make are as follows: (1) A comprehensive, thematic review (quantitative and qualitative) of multiple academic experiments from the investment management perspective. (2) A critical evaluation of running multiple versions of the same models in parallel and disclosing the best-performing ones only (“cherry-picking”). (3) Recommendations on how to approach future experiments so that their outcomes are unambiguously measurable and useful for the investment industry. (4) An in-depth comparison of real-life cases of ML-driven funds versus academic experiments. We will discuss whether present-day ML algorithms could make feasible and profitable investments in the equity markets.
Ecological risk of heavy metal in agricultural soil and transfer to rice grains
Authors: Mahmud Upoma , Salam Md. Tareq Bin , Khan Abu Shamim , Rahman Md. Mizanur
Published: April 2021

Higher accumulation of heavy metals in food grains is one of the leading problems for carcinogenic effects in the body. That’s why; scientists have taken this problem as a potential indicator for ensuring safe food. The present study was carried out to assess the ecological risk of heavy metals such as nickel, copper, arsenic, lead, and manganese in agricultural soil and transfer status to rice grain. Soil samples were collected from four agricultural fields at different times in the Dumuria Upazila under Khulna district in Bangladesh. Heavy metal concentration in soil extracts, irrigation water samples, and grain samples was determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Average metal concentrations in soil were calculated and compared with the reference value in soil. In most cases, heavy metals in agricultural soil (Ni: 61.73–94.52 mg/kg; Cu: 23.33–37.5 mg/kg; As: 7.53–19.63 mg/kg; Pb: 15.17–29.19 mg/kg; Mn: 322.98–478.45 mg/kg) were greater than the reference soil (Ni: 13.08–24.55 mg/kg; Cu: 10.35–13.28 mg/kg; As: 1.87–4.61 mg/kg; Pb: 4.88–8.27 mg/kg; Mn: 52.17–74.3 mg/kg). Overall risk index stated that the examined soils were at moderate risk of contamination. Transfer Factor of arsenic (0.018–0.032 mg/kg) and manganese (0.059–0.155 mg/kg) was higher from soil to rice grain. On the other hand, transfer factor of lead was found negligible that is a good sign of improvement. The findings of the study will be good documentation for planning, risk assessment, and decision-making by environmental managers in this region.
Can Hernia Sac to Abdominal Cavity Volume Ratio Predict Fascial Closure Rate for Large Ventral Hernia? Reliability of the Tanaka Score
Authors: Fafaj Aldo , Thomas Jonah , Zolin Samuel J. , de Figueiredo Sergio Mazzola Poli , Tastaldi Luciano , Liu Peter S. , Petro Clayton C. , Krpata David M. , Prabhu Ajita S. , Rosen Michael J.
Published: April 2021

BACKGROUND:

The hernia sac to abdominal cavity volume ratio (VR) on abdominal CT was described previously as a way to predict which hernias would be less likely to achieve fascial closure. The aim of this study was to test the reliability of the previously described cutoff ratio in predicting fascial closure in a cohort of patients with large ventral hernias.

METHODS:

Patients who underwent elective, open incisional hernia repair of 18 cm or larger width at a single center were identified. The primary end point of interest was fascial closure for all patients. Secondary outcomes included operative details and abdominal wall-specific quality-of-life metrics. We used VR as a comparison variable and calculated the test characteristics (ie, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values).

RESULTS:

A total of 438 patients were included, of which 337 (77%) had complete fascial closure and 101 (23%) had incomplete fascial closure. The VR cutoff of 25% had a sensitivity of 76% (95% CI, 71% to 80%), specificity of 64% (95% CI, 54% to 74%), positive predictive value of 88% (95% CI, 83% to 91%), and negative predictive value of 45% (95% CI, 36% to 53%). The incomplete fascial closure group had significantly lower quality of life scores at 1 year (83.3 vs 52.5; p = 0.001), 2 years (85 vs 33.3; p = 0.003), and 3 years (86.7 vs 63.3; p = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONS:

In our study, the VR cutoff of 25% was sensitive for predicting complete fascial closure for patients with ratios below this threshold. Although there is a higher likelihood of incomplete fascial closure when VR is ≥ 25%, this end point cannot be predicted reliably. Additional studies should be done to study this ratio in conjunction with other hernia-related variables to better predict this important surgical end point.
Predictors of Remission and Relapse of Diabetes after Conventional Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer: Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Kwon Yeongkeun , Kwon Jin-Won , Kim Dohyang , Ha Jane , Park Shin-Hoo , Hwang Jinseub , Heo Yoonseok , Park Sungsoo
Published: April 2021

BACKGROUND:

We investigated whether preoperative clinical parameters predict diabetes remission and relapse after conventional gastrectomy for cancer and whether postoperative weight changes influence diabetes remission and relapse.

STUDY DESIGN:

This study included 5,150 patients with diabetes who underwent gastrectomy for cancer from 2004 to 2014. Diabetes remission was defined in 3 ways, according to postoperative antidiabetic medication and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels. Diabetes relapse was defined as reinitiating antidiabetic medication among patients in diabetes remission.

RESULTS:

Six predictors (higher body mass index [BMI], total gastrectomy, younger age, FPG levels, number of oral hypoglycemic agents [OHAs], and no insulin use) of diabetes remission increased the likelihood of remission by >13-fold (odds ratio [OR], 13.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.65-19.11). Three factors (younger age, lower FPG levels, and use of only 1 OHA) predicted a 58% decreased likelihood of diabetes relapse (hazard ratio, 0.42; 95% CI 0.35-0.48). The lowest interval of postoperative BMI decrease (<-20%) showed a >3-fold increased likelihood of diabetes remission than the highest interval (≥-5%; OR 3.14; 95% CI 2.08-4.75), independent of baseline BMI.

CONCLUSIONS:

Six variables (BMI, type of gastrectomy, age, FPG levels, number of OHAs used, and insulin use/non-use), and 3 variables (age, FPG levels, number of OHAs used) significantly predict diabetes remission and relapse after gastrectomy for cancer, respectively. Greater postoperative weight decrease may increase the likelihood of diabetes remission, independent of baseline weight. Our results may serve as a basis for the establishment of diabetes and weight management strategies after conventional gastrectomy for cancer.
Applying Machine Learning Across Sites: External Validation of a Surgical Site Infection Detection Algorithm
Authors: Zhu Ying , Simon Gyorgy J. , Wick Elizabeth C. , Abe-Jones Yumiko , Najafi Nader , Sheka Adam , Tourani Roshan , Skube Steven J. , Hu Zhen , Melton Genevieve B.
Published: April 2021

BACKGROUND:

Surgical complications have tremendous consequences and costs. Complication detection is important for quality improvement, but traditional manual chart review is burdensome. Automated mechanisms are needed to make this more efficient. To understand the generalizability of a machine learning algorithm between sites, automated surgical site infection (SSI) detection algorithms developed at one center were tested at another distinct center.

STUDY DESIGN:

NSQIP patients had electronic health record (EHR) data extracted at one center (University of Minnesota Medical Center, Site A) over a 4-year period for model development and internal validation, and at a second center (University of California San Francisco, Site B) over a subsequent 2-year period for external validation. Models for automated NSQIP SSI detection of superficial, organ space, and total SSI within 30 days postoperatively were validated using area under the curve (AUC) scores and corresponding 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS:

For the 8,883 patients (Site A) and 1,473 patients (Site B), AUC scores were not statistically different for any outcome including superficial (external 0.804, internal [0.784, 0.874] AUC); organ/space (external 0.905, internal [0.867, 0.941] AUC); and total (external 0.855, internal [0.854, 0.908] AUC) SSI. False negative rates decreased with increasing case review volume and would be amenable to a strategy in which cases with low predicted probabilities of SSI could be excluded from chart review.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings demonstrated that SSI detection machine learning algorithms developed at 1 site were generalizable to another institution. SSI detection models are practically applicable to accelerate and focus chart review.
Ecosystem Collapse and Recovery
Authors: Newton Adrian C.
Published: April 2021

There is a growing concern that many important ecosystems, such as coral reefs and tropical rain forests, might be at risk of sudden collapse as a result of human disturbance. At the same time, efforts to support the recovery of degraded ecosystems are increasing, through approaches such as ecological restoration and rewilding. Given the dependence of human livelihoods on the multiple benefits provided by ecosystems, there is an urgent need to understand the situations under which ecosystem collapse can occur, and how ecosystem recovery can best be supported. To help develop this understanding, this volume provides the first scientific account of the ecological mechanisms associated with the collapse of ecosystems and their subsequent recovery. After providing an overview of relevant theory, the text evaluates these ideas in the light of available empirical evidence, by profiling case studies drawn from both contemporary and prehistoric ecosystems. Implications for conservation policy and practice are then examined.
The Veil of Participation
Authors: Hudson Alexander
Published: April 2021

Public participation is a vital part of constitution-making processes around the world, but we know very little about the extent to which participation affects constitutional texts. In this book, Alexander Hudson offers a systematic measurement of the impact of public participation in three much-cited cases - Brazil, South Africa, and Iceland - and introduces a theory of party-mediated public participation. He argues that public participation has limited potential to affect the constitutional text but that the effectiveness of participation varies with the political context. Party strength is the key factor, as strong political parties are unlikely to incorporate public input, while weaker parties are comparatively more responsive to public input. This party-mediation thesis fundamentally challenges the contemporary consensus on the design of constitution-making processes and places new emphasis on the role of political parties.
Neurophysiological evidence of motor imagery training in Parkinson’s disease: a case series study
Authors: Lambert Kathryn J. M. , Singhal Anthony , Leung Ada W. S.
Published: April 2021

Background:

Motor imagery (MI) has become an increasingly popular rehabilitation tool for individuals with motor impairments. However, it has been proposed that individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PKD) may not benefit from MI due to impairments in motor learning.

Objective:

This case series study investigated the effects of a 4-week MI training protocol on MI ability in three male individuals with PKD, with an emphasis on examining changes in brain responses.

Methods:

Training was completed primarily at home, via audio recordings, and emphasized the imagination of functional tasks. MI ability was assessed pre and post-training using subjective and objective imagery questionnaires, alongside an electroencephalographic (EEG) recording of a functional MI task. EEG analysis focused on the mu rhythm, as it has been proposed that suppression in the mu rhythm may reflect MI success and motor learning. Previous research has indicated that mu suppression is impaired in individuals with PKD, and may contribute to the disease’s associated deficits in motor learning.

Results:

Following training, all three participants improved in MI accuracy, but reported no notable improvements in MI vividness. Greater suppression in the mu rhythm was also exhibited by all three participants post-training.

Conclusion:

These results suggest the participants learned from the training protocol and that individuals with PKD are responsive to MI training. Further research on a larger scale is needed to verify the findings and determine if this learning translates to improvements in motor function.
Cost-Effective Cranioplasty Utilizing 3D Printed Molds: A Canadian Single-Center Experience
Authors: Lannon Melissa , Algird Almunder , Alsunbul Waleed , Wang Bill Hao
Published: April 2021

Background:

Cranioplasty is a commonly performed neurosurgical procedure used to repair defects of the cranial vault. For large defects, 3D printing allows for the creation of patient-specific synthetic cranioplasties. Although these implants provide excellent cosmetic results for patients, costs are quite high. This makes their routine use challenging in the current Canadian healthcare environment. The purpose of this study is to report our experience with a novel, cost-effective method for cranioplasty using desktop 3D printers to manufacture patient-specific molds to aid in the shaping of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) cranioplasty intraoperatively.

Methods:

A retrospective review of patients who underwent cranioplasty utilizing 3D printed custom molds was conducted at a single center between 2018 and 2020. Either a two-piece self-align or open-air mold was utilized. Material cost, as well as demographic, clinical, and radiologic data, was reviewed. A five-point ordinance scale was used to evaluate patient satisfaction with cosmesis.

Results:

Four patients had previous craniectomies with infected bone flaps, 2 patients had significant bony destruction from tumor invasion, and 1 patient had bone flap resorption. Three patients underwent an open-air mold technique with a Ti-mesh/PMMA-combined implant. The remaining 4 patients underwent two-piece mold with PMMA-only implant. All patients had ‘Good’ to ‘Excellent’ cosmetic outcome with one post-operative acute subdural hematoma and one post-operative infection. Two-piece mold resulted in improved cosmetic outcome and cost savings.

Conclusions:

3D printing can be used in a cost-effective manner to deliver good cranioplasty cosmesis. Wider adoption of this technique can result in significant healthcare cost savings without compromising patient outcome.
Factors That Affect Emergency Responder Wellbeing: Considerations for Public Health Responders
Authors: Gebreyesus Tsega , Cohen Julia , Rasulnia Bobby , Kuwabara Sachiko
Published: April 2021

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to identify key risk factors that could negatively affect public health emergency responders’ health and wellbeing. We seek to use this information to provide recommendations and strategies to mitigate such risks.

Design/Methodology/Approach:

A narrative review of the peer-reviewed literature on wellbeing of military personnel and other responders was conducted. Data was grouped and categorized according to overarching domains.

Findings:

Factors associated with wellbeing were categorized into 5 domains: (1) demographics; (2) mental health concerns; (3) social networks; (4) work environment; and (5) postdeployment life. The strategies identified to promote wellbeing included mental health assessments, preparedness trainings, debriefs in the field, postdeployment debriefs, resources in the field, and further postdeployment decompression strategies.

Originality/Value:

This study provides a unique understanding of the risk factors associated with poor health and wellbeing outcomes in public health emergency response work by extending the body of knowledge that focuses on other types of emergency and military response.
Deception-Based Hermeneutical Injustice
Authors: Luzzi Federico
Published: April 2021

I argue that patients who suffer genital surgery to ‘disambiguate’ their sexual anatomy, a practice labelled ‘intersex genital mutilation’ (IGM) by intersex advocates, can be understood as victims of hermeneutical injustice in the sense elaborated by Miranda Fricker. This claim is clarified and defended from two objections. I further argue that a particular subset of cases of IGM-based hermeneutical injustice instantiate a novel form of hermeneutical injustice, which I calldeception-based hermeneutical injustice.I highlight how this differs from central types of hermeneutical injustice in the literature and trace its harms.
Rethinking Epistemic Appropriation
Authors: Podosky Paul-Mikhail Catapang
Published: April 2021

Emmalon Davis has offered an insightful analysis of an under-theorized form of epistemic oppression calledepistemic appropriation.This occurs when an epistemic resource developed within marginalized situatedness gains inter-communal uptake, but the author of the epistemic resource is unacknowledged. In this paper, I argue that Davis's definition of epistemic appropriation is not exhaustive. In particular, she misses out on explaining cases of epistemic appropriation in which an intra-communal epistemic resource isobscuredthrough inter-communal uptake. Being attentive to this form of epistemic appropriation allows us to identify unique forms of epistemic oppression that emerge as a result of socially maintained active ignorance.
Patterns of dental antibiotic prescribing in 2017: Australia, England, United States, and British Columbia (Canada)
Authors: Thompson Wendy , Teoh Leanne , Hubbard Colin C. , Marra Fawziah , Patrick David M. , Mamun Abdullah , Campbell Allen , Suda Katie J.
Published: April 2021

Objective:

Our objective was to compare patterns of dental antibiotic prescribing in Australia, England, and North America (United States and British Columbia, Canada).

Design:

Population-level analysis of antibiotic prescription.

Setting:

Outpatient prescribing by dentists in 2017.

Participants:

Patients receiving an antibiotic dispensed by an outpatient pharmacy.

Methods:

Prescription-based rates adjusted by population were compared overall and by antibiotic class. Contingency tables assessed differences in the proportion of antibiotic class by country.

Results:

In 2017, dentists in the United States had the highest antibiotic prescribing rate per 1,000 population and Australia had the lowest rate. The penicillin class, particularly amoxicillin, was the most frequently prescribed for all countries. The second most common agents prescribed were clindamycin in the United States and British Columbia (Canada) and metronidazole in Australia and England. Broad-spectrum agents, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and azithromycin were the highest in Australia and the United States, respectively.

Conclusion:

Extreme differences exist in antibiotics prescribed by dentists in Australia, England, the United States, and British Columbia. The United States had twice the antibiotic prescription rate of Australia and the most frequently prescribed antibiotic in the US was clindamycin. Significant opportunities exist for the global dental community to update their prescribing behavior relating to second-line agents for penicillin allergic patients and to contribute to international efforts addressing antibiotic resistance. Patient safety improvements will result from optimizing dental antibiotic prescribing, especially for antibiotics associated with resistance (broad-spectrum agents) or C. difficile (clindamycin). Dental antibiotic stewardship programs are urgently needed worldwide.
A longitudinal evaluation of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with pre-existing anxiety disorders
Authors: Hennigan K. , McGovern M. , Plunkett R. , Costello S. , McDonald C. , Hallahan B.
Published: April 2021

Objectives:

To examine if the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with a differential effect over time in relation to its psychological and social impact on patients with established anxiety disorders.

Methods:

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 individuals attending the Galway–Roscommon Mental Health Services with an International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 diagnosis of an anxiety disorder at two time points (six months apart) to determine the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on anxiety and depressive symptoms, social and occupational functioning and quality of life.

Results:

No statistical difference in symptomatology was noted between the two time points in relation to anxiety symptoms as measured by utilising psychometric rating scales (BAI and HARS) or utilising a Likert scale. The greatest impact of COVID-19 at both time points is related to social functioning and quality of life. Significant variability was noted for individual participants. Qualitative analysis noted social isolation, concern for the participants’ future and increased difficulty managing anxiety with ongoing restrictions.

Conclusions:

No significant overall change in symptomatology or functioning over time was noted for individuals with pre-existing anxiety disorders. Variability was, however, demonstrated between individuals, with some individuals describing ongoing anxiety, social isolation and concern for their future. Identifying those with ongoing symptoms or distress and providing multidisciplinary support to this cohort is suggested.
A theory of children's decisional privacy
Authors: Dimopoulos Georgina
Published: April 2021

Decisional privacy offers individuals the freedom to act and to make important decisions about how they live their lives, without unjustifiable interference from other individuals or the state. Children's perceived vulnerability, incapacity for rational decision-making and dependence on adults have been used to justify depriving children of decisional privacy rights and subjecting them to the exercise of adult power over the conditions of their lives. The aim of this paper is to articulate a theory of children's decisional privacy. It is argued that decisional privacy is valued as a condition that enables individual autonomy. A relational, gradual conception of autonomy is advanced, to explain how children can be recognised as having the capacity for autonomy, and in some circumstances, actual autonomy. This paper presents four fundamental principles of a children's rights approach to decisional privacy, which collectively serve to enhance children's meaningful participation in decision-making about their best interests, consistently with children's evolving capacities and the receipt of appropriate parental direction and guidance. The theory developed in this paper presents an opportunity for adult decision-makers to reflect upon how they make decisions for and about children, and how children can play a meaningful role in those decision-making processes.
The men’s mental health perspective on adolescent suicide in the COVID-19 era
Authors: Rice Timothy , Sher Leo
Published: April 2021

Objective:

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed society and introduced many new factors to consider in adolescent suicide risk assessment and prevention. One complexity that warrants consideration is the male-specific impacts of the pandemic within adolescence.

Methods:

A review of the relevant literature.

Results:

Matters of social distancing, virtual education, and substance use may impact adolescent men in fashions that raise their suicide risk more significantly relative to adolescent women. Social distancing may impact adolescents’ friendships and generate a regression back to the nuclear family; qualities of male adolescents’ friendships and of masculinity suggest that these impacts may be more severe in adolescent men and may directly raise suicide risk. Virtual schooling yields educational and social setbacks; losses of team sports, male mentors, and the implications of diminished educational advancement may more adversely affect adolescent men and raise risk. Substance use has increased in the pandemic, particularly amongst adolescent men. There are direct associations with suicide risk as well as indirectly through increased parental conflict and punishment.

Conclusion:

As adolescent men die by suicide at significantly elevated rates relative to adolescent women, a male-specific consideration of these impacts is indicated to address adolescent suicide in our current era. Recommendations are made for integrating these considerations into updated adolescent suicide risk assessment and prevention efforts.
Facies characterisation of sediments from the East Frisian Wadden Sea (Germany): new insights from down-core scanning techniques
Authors: Lee An-Sheng , Enters Dirk , Titschack Jürgen , Zolitschka Bernd
Published: April 2021

Sediment facies provide fundamental information to interpret palaeoenvironments, climatic variation, archaeological aspects and natural resource potentials since they are summary products of depositional processes, environmental conditions and biological activities for a given time and location. The conventional method of facies discrimination relies on macroscopic and/or microscopic determination of sediment structures combined with basic physical, chemical and biological information. It is a qualitative measure, depending on observer-dependent sedimentological descriptions, which cannot be reanalysed readily by further studies. Quantitative laboratory measurements can overcome this disadvantage, but are in need of large sample numbers and/or high temporal resolution, and are time-, labour- and cost-intensive. In order to facilitate an observer-independent and efficient method of facies classification, our study evaluates the potential of combining four non-destructive down-core scanning techniques: magnetic susceptibility (MS), X-ray computed tomography (CT), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and digital photography. These techniques were applied on selected sections of sediment cores recovered around the island of Norderney (East Frisian Wadden Sea, Germany). We process and integrate the acquired scanning measurements of XRF elemental intensities, represented by principal components, MS, CT density and lightness of eight sediment facies previously recognised by conventional facies analysis: moraine, eolian/fluvial, soil, peat, lagoonal, sand flat, channel fill and beach-foreshore. A novel type of density plot is introduced to visualise the digitised sediment information that allows an observer-independent differentiation of these facies types. Thus, the presented methodology provides the first step towards automated supervised facies classification with the potential to reproduce human assessments in a fully reproducible and quantitative manner.
n-3 long-chain PUFA promote antibacterial and inflammation-resolving effects inMycobacterium tuberculosis-infected C3HeB/FeJ mice, dependent on fatty acid status
Authors: Nienaber Arista , Ozturk Mumin , Dolman Robin , Blaauw Renee , Zandberg Lizelle L. , van Rensburg Simone , Britz Melinda , Hayford Frank E. A. , Brombacher Frank , Loots Du Toit , Smuts Cornelius M. , Parihar Suraj P. , Malan Linda
Published: April 2021

Non-resolving inflammation is characteristic of tuberculosis (TB). Given their inflammation-resolving properties,n-3 long-chain PUFA (n-3 LCPUFA) may support TB treatment. This research aimed to investigate the effects ofn-3 LCPUFA on clinical and inflammatory outcomes ofMycobacterium tuberculosis-infected C3HeB/FeJ mice with either normal or lown-3 PUFA status before infection. Using a two-by-two design, uninfected mice were conditioned on either ann-3 PUFA-sufficient (n-3FAS) or -deficient (n-3FAD) diet for 6 weeks. One week post-infection, mice were randomised to eithern-3 LCPUFA supplemented (n-3FAS/n-3+ andn-3FAD/n-3+) or continued onn-3FAS orn-3FAD diets for 3 weeks. Mice were euthanised and fatty acid status, lung bacterial load and pathology, cytokine, lipid mediator and immune cell phenotype analysed.n-3 LCPUFA supplementation inn-3FAS mice lowered lung bacterial loads (P= 0·003), T cells (P= 0·019), CD4+T cells (P= 0·014) and interferon (IFN)-γ(P< 0·001) and promoted a pro-resolving lung lipid mediator profile. Compared withn-3FAS mice, then-3FAD group had lower bacterial loads (P= 0·037), significantly higher immune cell recruitment and a more pro-inflammatory lipid mediator profile, however, significantly lower lung IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-1βand IL-17, and supplementation in then-3FAD group provided no beneficial effect on lung bacterial load or inflammation. Our study provides the first evidence thatn-3 LCPUFA supplementation has antibacterial and inflammation-resolving benefits in TB when provided 1 week after infection in the context of a sufficientn-3 PUFA status, whilst a lown-3 PUFA status may promote better bacterial control and lower lung inflammation not benefiting fromn-3 LCPUFA supplementation.
Impact of maternal obesity and prebiotic supplementation on select maternal milk microRNA levels and correlation with offspring outcomes
Authors: Lowry Dana E. , Paul Heather A. , Reimer Raylene A.
Published: April 2021

Breast milk composition varies with maternal factors including diet and confers health benefits to the neonate; however, the mechanisms mediating this protection remain incompletely understood. Our aim was to investigate the effects of supplementing a maternal high-fat/sucrose (HFS) diet with prebiotic oligofructose (OFS) on milk composition in rats and associations with offspring body composition and gut microbiota. Obese Sprague–Dawley dams consumed a control, HFS, HFS + OFS (10 % wt/wt) or HFS diet weight-matched to the HFS + OFS group (HFS-WM) during pregnancy and lactation. Pups were weaned onto a HFS diet on day 21. Milk was collected at weaning and analysed for protein, leptin and microRNA (miRNA) levels. Milk produced by HFS dams contained less protein than milk from lean controls which was normalised by OFS. Six miRNA (miR-222, miR-203a, miR-200a, miR-26a, miR-27a and miR-103) were differentially expressed in milk according to maternal diet. Milk leptin content was positively correlated with maternal body fat and faecal Enterobacteriaceae in male offspring at 24 weeks of age. Milk protein content was inversely associated with maternal body fat and body weight. miR-200a was positively associated with maternal body fat and Enterobacteriaceae in female offspring at 24 weeks of age. Correlations between milk protein and multiple milk miRNA and offspring body composition and gut microbiota differed by sex. Overall, our results suggest that obesogenic diets and prebiotic supplementation can alter the protein and miRNA levels in breast milk in rats and these milk components may explain, in part, the influence of these maternal diets on offspring body composition.
Selection of models to describe the temperature-dependent development of Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and its application to predict the species voltinism under future climate conditions
Authors: Santos Hevellyn Talissa dos , Marchioro Cesar Augusto
Published: April 2021

The small tomato borer, Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée, 1854) is a multivoltine pest of tomato and other cultivated solanaceous plants. The knowledge on how N. elegantalis respond to temperature may help in the development of pest management strategies, and in the understanding of the effects of climate change on its voltinism. In this context, this study aimed to select models to describe the temperature-dependent development rate of N. elegantalis and apply the best models to evaluate the impacts of climate change on pest voltinism. Voltinism was estimated with the best fit non-linear model and the degree-day approach using future climate change scenarios representing intermediary and high greenhouse gas emission rates. Two out of the six models assessed showed a good fit to the observed data and accurately estimated the thermal thresholds of N. elegantalis. The degree-day and the non-linear model estimated more generations in the warmer regions and fewer generations in the colder areas, but differences of up to 41% between models were recorded mainly in the warmer regions. In general, both models predicted an increase in the voltinism of N. elegantalis in most of the study area, and this increase was more pronounced in the scenarios with high emission of greenhouse gases. The mathematical model (74.8%) and the location (9.8%) were the factors that mostly contributed to the observed variation in pest voltinism. Our findings highlight the impact of climate change on the voltinism of N. elegantalis and indicate that an increase in its population growth is expected in most regions of the study area.
CanAnastrepha fraterculuslarval feeding influence chemotaxis and parasitism ofDiachasmimorpha longicaudataandAganaspis pelleranoi?
Authors: Pires Patricia Daniela da Silva , Sant’ Ana Josué , Redaelli Luiza Rodrigues
Published: April 2021

Anastrepha fraterculus(Diptera: Tephritidae) is a major barrier to fruit production and exportation. In Brazil, the native parasitoidAganaspis pelleranoi(Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and the exotic parasitoidDiachasmimorpha longicaudata(Hymenoptera, Braconidae) stand out as biological control agents. Knowledge of the factors that affect interactions among parasitoids,A. fraterculus, and host fruits may enhance the use of these agents in biological control programmes. This study evaluated the chemotaxis and parasitism ofA. pelleranoiandD. longicaudatafemales reared onA. fraterculuslarvae and kept on an artificial diet, red guava (Psidium guajava) or apple (Malus domestica). Females of both parasitoid species that emerged from larvae raised on artificial diet, guava or apple, were tested to Y olfactometer choice tests. In the parasitism tests, both parasitoid species were made to choose betweenA. fraterculuslarvae brushed with water, apple pulp or guava pulp.D. longicaudatafemales from artificial diet (control) did not distinguish between fruit odours; however, females ofD. longicaudatafrom larvae kept in apple or guava directed to the odours of their original fruit. The greatest parasitism forD. longicaudataoccurred in the units that contained the pulp in which the larvae grew.A. pelleranoifrom artificial diet preferred guava odours, including the females kept in apple. Similar results were observed in the parasitism bioassays. Our results found thatA. fraterculuslarval feeding influenced search behaviour and parasitism ofD. longicaudata, whereasA. pelleranoirearing experience did not affect its host choices.
Middle Jurassic arc reversal, Victoria–Katha Block and Sibumasu Terrane collision, jadeite formation and Western Tin Belt generation, Myanmar
Authors: Mitchell Andrew , Htay Myint Thein , Htun Kyaw Min
Published: April 2021

Myanmar is occupied by the N-wards continuation of the Sunda arc and by the Shan Plateau and its continuation through Yunnan into Tibet. Our new tectonic interpretation of the ophiolite–flysch belts, world-famous jadeite and tin deposits in Myanmar west of the Salween adopts previous proposals that, before 450-km post-early Oligocene dextral displacement along the Sagaing Fault, the ophiolite belt in NE Myanmar continued through the topography that is now located west of the fault in the Indo-Burman Ranges. Differences in cross-section through Mogok and the Shan Scarps are reconciled by the recently proposed emplacement, in our view during Permian time, of the Mogok Metamorphic Group onto the Slate Belt to form Sibumasu. We argue that during Early Jurassic time a Neo-Tethys ophiolite nappe was obducted over turbidites on Sibumasu’s passive western margin. Following reversal in tectonic polarity, the remaining Neo-Tethys subducted E-wards generating the 113–128 Ma Mondaung Arc. During ocean closure the Victoria–Katha Block and its Triassic flysch subducted beneath Sibumasu, resulting in jadeite veins in overlying serpentinite that ascended in the subduction zone and were exhumed at Hpakant and Nat Hmaw, bordering the Jade Mines Uplift. Subduction of the Indian Ocean since Albian time generated the Popa–Loimye arc, while extensional faulting led to uplift of the Indo-Burman Ranges and to the formation of the Western Tin Belt granites. Tectonic effects in Myanmar of the India–Asia collision may be confined to the Disang thrust belt in the Naga Hills.
Robustness of Empirical Evidence for the Democratic Peace: A Nonparametric Sensitivity Analysis
Authors: Imai Kosuke , Lo James
Published: April 2021

The democratic peace—the idea that democracies rarely fight one another—has been called “the closest thing we have to an empirical law in the study of international relations.” Yet, some contend that this relationship is spurious and suggest alternative explanations. Unfortunately, in the absence of randomized experiments, we can never rule out the possible existence of such confounding biases. Rather than commonly used regression-based approaches, we apply a nonparametric sensitivity analysis. We show that overturning the negative association between democracy and conflict would require a confounder that is forty-seven times more prevalent in democratic dyads than in other dyads. To put this number in context, the relationship between democracy and peace is at least five times as robust as that between smoking and lung cancer. To explain away the democratic peace, therefore, scholars would have to find far more powerful confounders than those already identified in the literature.
More Power to the People: Electricity Adoption, Technological Change, and Labor Conflict
Authors: Molinder Jakob , Karlsson Tobias , Enflo Kerstin
Published: April 2021

Will technical change spur conflicts in the labor market? In this study, we examine electricity adoption in Sweden during the first decades of the twentieth century. Exploiting that proximity to hydropowered plants shaped the electricity network independently of previous local conditions, we estimate the impact of electricity on labor strikes. Our results indicate that electricity adoption preceded an increase in conflicts, but strikes were of an offensive nature and most common in sectors with increasing labor demand. This suggests that electrification provided workers with a stronger bargaining position from which they could voice their claims.
Insights into attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder from recent genetic studies
Authors: Brikell Isabell , Burton Christie , Mota Nina Roth , Martin Joanna
Published: April 2021

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common and highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD). In this narrative review, we summarize recent advances in quantitative and molecular genetic research from the past 5–10 years. Combined with large-scale international collaboration, these advances have resulted in fast-paced progress in understanding the etiology of ADHD and how genetic risk factors map on to clinical heterogeneity. Studies are converging on a number of key insights. First, ADHD is a highly polygenic NDD with a complex genetic architecture encompassing risk variants across the spectrum of allelic frequencies, which are implicated in neurobiological processes. Second, genetic studies strongly suggest that ADHD diagnosis shares a large proportion of genetic risks with continuously distributed traits of ADHD in the population, with shared genetic risks also seen across development and sex. Third, ADHD genetic risks are shared with those implicated in many other neurodevelopmental, psychiatric and somatic phenotypes. As sample sizes and the diversity of genetic studies continue to increase through international collaborative efforts, we anticipate further success with gene discovery, characterization of how the ADHD phenotype relates to other human traits and growing potential to use genomic risk factors for understanding clinical trajectories and for precision medicine approaches.
A New Austrian Regionalism: Alfons Walde and Austrian Identity in Painting after 1918
Authors: Secklehner Julia
Published: April 2021

This essay assesses the role of regionalism in interwar Austrian painting with a focus on the Tyrolean painter and architect Alfons Walde (1891–1958). At a time when painting was seen to be in crisis, eclipsed by the deaths of prominent Viennese artists such as Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, regionalism offered an alternative engagement with modern art. As the representative of a wider regionalist movement, Walde paved the way for a clearly identifiable image of rural Austria without foregoing the modernization process that took place in the Alps at the time. Filtering essential elements of local culture and synthesizing them with both a modern formal language and “modern” topics, most significantly ski tourism, he created a regionalism that reverberated beyond the narrow confines of his home province and caught particular momentum during the rise of the AustrianStändestaatin the 1930s. Moving in between regional and national significance, Walde's work underlines the essential position of the region in Austria after 1918 and conveys that an engaged regionalism that responded to the rapid cultural and political changes taking place became a significant aspect of interwar Austrian painting.
Speaking of State of Mind: Maternal Mental Health Predicts Children's Home Language Environment and Expressive Language
Authors: CLIFFORD Brandon Neil , STOCKDALE Laura A. , COYNE Sarah M. , RAINEY Vanessa , BENITEZ Viridiana L.
Published: April 2021

Maternal depression and anxiety are potential risk factors to children's language environments and development. Though existing work has examined relations between these constructs, further work is needed accounting for both depression and anxiety and using more direct measures of the home language environment and children's language development. We examined 265 mother-infant dyads (49.6% female, Mage = 17.03 months) from a large city in the Western United States to explore the relations between self-reports of maternal depression and anxiety and observational indices of the home language environment and expressive language as captured by Language Environment Analysis (LENA) and parent-reported language comprehension and production. Results revealed maternal depressive symptoms to be negatively associated with home language environment and expressive language indices. Maternal anxiety symptoms were found to be negatively associated with children's parent-reported language production. These findings provide further evidence that maternal mental health modulates children's home language environments and expressive language.
Lower central series, surface braid groups, surjections and permutations
Authors: BELLINGERI PAOLO , GONÇALVES DACIBERG LIMA , GUASCHI JOHN
Published: April 2021

Generalising previous results on classical braid groups by Artin and Lin, we determine the values of m, n ∈ $\mathbb N$ for which there exists a surjection between the n- and m-string braid groups of an orientable surface without boundary. This result is essentially based on specific properties of their lower central series, and the proof is completely combinatorial. We provide similar but partial results in the case of orientable surfaces with boundary components and of non-orientable surfaces without boundary. We give also several results about the classification of different representations of surface braid groups in symmetric groups.