bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Which impacts more seriously on natural habitat loss and degradation? Cropland expansion or urban expansion?
Authors: Tang Lanping , Ke Xinli , Chen Yuanyuan , Wang Liye , Zhou Qiushi , Zheng Weiwei , Xiao Bangyong
Published: September 2020

Natural habitat plays an important role in maintaining biodiversity. Both cropland expansion and urban expansion have an influence on natural habitat. However, it is not clear which one impacts more seriously on both the quantity and quality of natural habitat. This study compared the impacts of cropland expansion on the quantity and quality of natural habitat in China between 2000 and 2015 with the impacts of urban expansion. Map algebra in ArcGIS 10.6 was used to calculate the changes in the quantity of natural habitat, while the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade‐offs (InVEST) Habitat Quality model was used to assess the changes in its quality. The results indicated that cropland expansion led to a loss of 35,811 km2 of natural habitat, which was twelve‐times as much as that from urban expansion. Furthermore, the area of the heaviest habitat degradation due to cropland expansion was 9,530 km2, which was eight‐times as much as that due to urban expansion. Noticeably, the greatest impacts of cropland expansion on natural habitat mostly occurred in areas where the ecological environment is already vulnerable (namely, the resistance and resilience of ecosystems in response to external interference are weak), whereas the impacts of urban expansion were much less in these areas. This study highlights that the impacts of cropland expansion on both the natural habitat loss and degradation far exceeded the impacts of urban expansion. It is necessary to improve cropland protection policies to guarantee food security while ensuring little or no harm to natural habitat.
Calcium Signaling Regulates Valvular Interstitial Cell Alignment and Myofibroblast Activation in Fast‐Relaxing Boronate Hydrogels
Authors: Ma Hao , Macdougall Laura J. , GonzalezRodriguez Andrea , Schroeder Megan E. , Batan Dilara , Weiss Robert M. , Anseth Kristi S.
Published: September 2020

The role viscoelasticity in fibrotic disease progression is an emerging area of interest. Here, a fast‐relaxing hydrogel system is exploited to investigate potential crosstalk between calcium signaling and mechanotransduction. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels containing boronate and triazole crosslinkers are synthesized, with varying ratios of boronate to triazole crosslinks to systematically vary the extent of stress relaxation. Valvular interstitial cells (VICs) encapsulated in hydrogels with the highest levels of stress relaxation (90%) exhibit a spread morphology by day 1 and are highly aligned (80 ± 2%) by day 5. Key myofibroblast markers, including α‐smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and collagen 1a1 (COL1A1), are significantly elevated. VIC myofibroblast activation decreases by 42 ± 18% through inhibition of mechanotransduction, independently of VIC morphology and alignment. Calcium signaling through a transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is found to regulate VIC spreading, alignment, and activation in a time dependent manner. Inhibition of calcium signaling at early time points results in disturbed cell alignment, decreased mechanotransduction, and diminished activation, while inhibition at later time points only causes partially reduced myofibroblast activation. These results suggest a potential crosstalk mechanism, where calcium signaling acts upstream of mechanosensing and can regulate VIC myofibroblast activation independently of mechanotransduction.
Punicalagin Attenuates Palmitate‐Induced Lipid Droplet Content by Simultaneously Improving Autophagy in Hepatocytes
Authors: Korovila Ioanna , Jung Tobias , Deubel Stefanie , Grune Tilman , Ott Christiane
Published: September 2020

Scope

Several studies show that excessive lipid intake can cause hepatic steatosis. To investigate lipotoxicity on cellular level, palmitate (PA) is often used to highly increase lipid droplets (LDs). One way to remove LDs is autophagy, while it is controversially discussed if autophagy is also affected by PA. It is aimed to investigate whether PA‐induced LD accumulation can impair autophagy and punicalagin, a natural autophagy inducer from pomegranate, can improve it.

Methods and results

To verify the role of autophagy in LD degradation, HepG2 cells are treated with PA and analyzed for LD and perilipin 2 content in presence of autophagy inducer Torin 1 and inhibitor 3‐Methyladenine. PA alone seems to initially induce autophagy‐related proteins but impairs autophagic‐flux in a time‐dependent manner, considering 6 and 24 h PA. To examine whether punicalagin can prevent autophagy impairment, cells are cotreated for 24 h with PA and punicalagin. Results show that punicalagin preserves expression of autophagy‐related proteins and autophagic flux, while simultaneously decreasing LDs and perilipin 2.

Conclusion

Data provide new insights into the role of PA‐induced excessive LD content on autophagy and suggest autophagy‐inducing properties of punicalagin, indicating that punicalagin can be a health‐beneficial compound for future research on lipotoxicity in liver.
Probing myelin content of the human brain with MRI: A review
Authors: Piredda Gian Franco , Hilbert Tom , Thiran Jean‐Philippe , Kober Tobias
Published: September 2020

Rapid and efficient transmission of electric signals among neurons of vertebrates is ensured by myelin‐insulating sheaths surrounding axons. Human cognition, sensation, and motor functions rely on the integrity of these layers, and demyelinating diseases often entail serious cognitive and physical impairments. Magnetic resonance imaging radically transformed the way these disorders are monitored, offering an irreplaceable tool to noninvasively examine the brain structure. Several advanced techniques based on MRI have been developed to provide myelin‐specific contrasts and a quantitative estimation of myelin density in vivo. Here, the vast offer of acquisition strategies developed to date for this task is reviewed. Advantages and pitfalls of the different approaches are compared and discussed.
Dynamical charge transfer for high‐performance triboelectric nanogenerators
Authors: Cui Xin , Zhang Yan
Published: September 2020

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) provide the most effective technology for using distributed mechanical energy to power distributed sensor networks. Improving the surface charge density is important to optimizing the performance of TENGs. Unlike electrets with steady‐state charges, there is a changing charge–discharge process in the working cycle for materials for TENGs. This article reviews several mechanisms to improve surface charge density by using decay coefficient, transfer time, and effective charge. These mechanisms decouple the physical quantities of charge decay and charge accumulation processes toward higher surface charge density. We also briefly discuss new strategies for improving surface charge density.
Evaluation of Nutrition Risk in Patients Over 65 Years of Age With Nontraumatic Acute Abdominal Syndrome
Authors: Acehan Selen , Gulen Muge , Satar Salim , Kuvvetli Adnan , Isikber Cem , Yesiloglu Onder , Toptas Firat Basak , Sonmez Ahmet , Segmen Mustafa Sencer , Ince Cagdas
Published: September 2020

Background

The objective of this study is to investigate the power of CRP/Albumin ratio, NRS‐2002, mNUTRIC scores to predict nutritional needs and mortality in patients over 65 years of age diagnosed with acute abdominal syndrome in the emergency department and then transferred to the surgical intensive care unit.

Material and Method

CRP/Albumin ratio, APACHE II, SOFA, NRS‐2002 and mNUTRIC scores were calculated. The analysis of the data was conducted in IBM SPSS Statistics Base 22.0 package program.

Results

In the analytical evaluation made for nutritional needs, AUC value for mNUTRIC was found to be: 0,683, 95% CI 0,611‐0,755, p < 0.001. It was found out that mortality of patients had a statistically significant and moderate correlation with mNUTRIC score (r = 0.537; p < 0.001). In the analytical evaluation made for mortality, mNUTRIC's AUC value (AUC: 0.808, 95% CI 0.736‐0.880, p < 0.001) was found to be the highest. When the cut‐off value determined to predict mortality was taken as 3.5 for mNUTRIC score, sensitivity was 75.9% and specificity was 69.4%.

Conclusion

The evaluation of the risk of malnutrition through nutritional risk tools in intensive care patients over 65 years of age with acute abdominal syndrome can also predict nutritional needs in the early period besides mortality. Based on our data, the fact that mNUTRIC score cut‐off value in older patients hospitalized in intensive care is 3.5 and higher may be a predictor for ICU mortality.
Original method of imprinting pores in scaffolds for tissue engineering
Authors: Gadomska‐Gajadhur Agnieszka , Kruk Aleksandra , Ruśkowski Paweł , Sajkiewicz Paweł , Dulnik Judyta , Chwojnowski Andrzej
Published: September 2020

Results of the preparation of biodegradable porous scaffolds using an original modification of a wet phase inversion method were presented. Influence of gelatin non‐woven as a non‐classic pore precursor and polyvinylpyrrolidone, Pluronic as classic pore precursors on the structure of obtained scaffolds was analyzed. It was shown that the addition of gelatin non‐wovens enables the preparation of scaffolds, which allow for the growth of cells (size, distribution, and shape of pores). Mechanical properties of the obtained cell scaffolds were determined. The influence of pore precursors on mass absorption of scaffolds against isopropanol and plasma was investigated. Interaction of scaffolds with a T‐lymphocyte line (Jurkat) and with fibroblasts (L929) was investigated. Obtained scaffolds are not cytotoxic and can be used as implants, for example, the regeneration of cartilage tissue.
Medications used disproportionately during pregnancy: Priorities for research on the risks and benefits of medications when used during pregnancy
Authors: Havard Alys , Barbieri Sebastiano , Hanly Mark , Perez‐Concha Oscar , Tran Duong T. , Kennedy Debra , Jorm Louisa R.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

To identify medications used disproportionately more or less among pregnant women relative to women of childbearing age.

Methods

Medication use among pregnant women in New South Wales, Australia was identified using linked perinatal and pharmaceutical dispensing data from 2006 to 2012. Medication use in women of childbearing age (including pregnant women) was identified using pharmaceutical dispensing data for a 10% random sample of the Australian population. Pregnant social security beneficiaries (n = 111 612) were age‐matched (1:3) to female social security beneficiaries in the 10% sample. For each medication, the risk it was dispensed during pregnancy relative to being dispensed during an equivalent time period among matched controls was computed. Medications were mapped to Australian pregnancy risk categories.

Results

Of the 181 included medications, 35 were statistically significantly more commonly dispensed to pregnant women than control women. Of these, 23 are categorised as posing no increased risk to the foetus. Among medications suspected of causing harm or having insufficient safety data, the strongest associations were observed for hydralazine, ondansetron, dalteparin sodium and ranitidine. Use was less likely during pregnancy than control periods for 127 medications, with the strongest associations observed for hormonal contraceptives and progestogens.

Conclusions

Most medications found to be used disproportionately more by pregnant women are indicated for pregnancy‐related problems. A large number of medications were used disproportionately less among pregnant women, where avoidance of some of these medications may pose a greater risk of harm. For many other medications avoided during pregnancy, current data are insufficient to inform this risk‐benefit assessment.
Potential‐induced degradation in photovoltaic modules composed of interdigitated back contact solar cells in photovoltaic systems under actual operating conditions
Authors: Ishii Tetsuyuki , Choi Sungwoo , Sato Ritsuko , Chiba Yasuo , Masuda Atsushi
Published: September 2020

Polarization‐type potential‐induced degradation (PID‐p) of photovoltaic (PV) modules composed of n‐type interdigitated back contact (IBC) solar cells can decrease the performance of the PV modules under positive potential conditions. The purpose of this study is to observe and describe the reduction and stabilization of the electrical performance of every PV module installed in an operating PV system with the progress of the PID‐p over a time duration of 6 years. The direct current circuit of the investigated PV system is not grounded. Therefore, all the PV strings are under floating potential conditions. The results show that the performance of the n‐type IBC PV modules exhibits a two‐step degradation. In the first step of degradation, the PV performance at positive potential decreases with increasing the PV module potential, whereas the PV modules at negative potential show little performance degradation. The PV performance reduction due to PID‐p is mainly caused by the decreases in both open‐circuit voltage (VOC) and short circuit current (ISC). A PV performance reduction, which principally arises from the decrease in ISC, is observed at every PV module in the PV strings regardless of the PV module potential in the second step of degradation. Therefore, solar cell manufacturers who produce n‐type IBC, as well as those producing passivated emitters and rear totally diffused solar cells, are advised that processes to prevent the PID‐p are required.
Localized hydrogels based on cellulose nanofibers and wood pulp for rapid removal of methylene blue
Authors: Harris Justin T. , McNeil Anne J.
Published: September 2020

Access to clean water has become increasingly difficult, motivating the need for materials that can efficiently remove pollutants. Hydrogels have been explored for remediation, but they often require long times to reach high levels of adsorption. To overcome this limitation, we developed a rapid, locally formed hydrogel that adsorbs dye during gelation. These hydrogels are derived from cellulose—a renewable, nontoxic, and biodegradable resource. More specifically, we found that sulfated cellulose nanofibers or sulfated wood pulps, when mixed with a water‐soluble, cationic cellulose derivative, efficiently remove methylene blue (a cationic dye) within seconds. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 340 ± 40 mg methylene blue/g cellulose. As such, these localized hydrogels (and structural analogues) may be useful for remediating other pollutants.
Decomposition Pathways of Ammonium Dinitramide (ADN) and its HNO3‐Clusters Elucidated by DFT‐Calculations
Authors: Lang Johannes , Bohn Manfred A.
Published: September 2020

Ammonium dinitramide (ADN) may serve as a ‘green’ oxidizer for rocket propellants since it provides chlorine free and minimum signature exhaust gases. However, stability issues and an erratic decomposition behaviour limit its non‐questionable general usability. Nitric acid (HNO3) is a decomposition product of ADN and is known to accelerate the decomposition autocatalytically. In this study, we investigate the effect of HNO3 on the initial decomposition steps of ADN via quantum chemical calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) in vacuo as well as in an aqueous solution. We establish and compare the reaction profiles of ADN, its anion DN− and its acid HDN as well as their HNO3‐clusters [NO3H_ADN], [NO3H_DN]− and [NO3H_HDN] towards the products NO2, HNO3 and N2O. All species exhibit various isomers with distinct decomposition pathways. We complement our study by investigating the protonated, cationic species [H_ADN]+, which may form in a low pH regime. The HNO3 clusters reveal modulated energy barriers and in part altered decomposition pathways in comparison to the free DN−, HDN, and ADN species. The altered pathways include the formation of reactive intermediates (such as H2NO3+) as well as the formation of two HNO3 molecules starting from one HNO3 molecule, hinting at accelerated decomposition of ADN due to interaction with HNO3.
Review: Allelochemicals as multi‐kingdom plant defence compounds: towards an integrated approach
Authors: Hickman Darwin T , Rasmussen Amanda , Ritz Karl , Birkett Michael A , Neve Paul
Published: September 2020

The capability of synthetic pesticides to manage weeds, insect pests and pathogens in crops has diminished due to evolved resistance. Sustainable management is thus becoming more challenging. Novel solutions are needed and, given the ubiquity of biologically active secondary metabolites in nature, such compounds require further exploration as leads for novel crop protection chemistry. Despite improving understanding of allelochemicals, particularly in terms of their potential for use in weed control, their interactions with multiple biotic kingdoms have to date largely been examined in individual compounds and not as a recurrent phenomenon. Here, multi‐kingdom effects in allelochemicals are introduced by defining effects on various organisms, before exploring current understanding of the inducibility and possible ecological roles of these compounds with regard to the evolutionary arms race and dose–response relationships. Allelochemicals with functional benefits in multiple aspects of plant defence are described. Gathering these isolated areas of science under the unified umbrella of multi‐kingdom allelopathy encourages the development of naturally‐derived chemistries conferring defence to multiple discrete biotic stresses simultaneously, maximizing benefits in weed, insect and pathogen control, while potentially circumventing resistance. © 2020 The Authors.Pest Management Sciencepublished by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Aloe vera and health outcomes: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta‐analyses
Authors: Sadoyu Saranrat , Rungruang Chidchanok , Wattanavijitkul Thitima , Sawangjit Ratree , Thakkinstian Ammarin , Chaiyakunapruk Nathorn
Published: September 2020

This umbrella review aims to summarize the effects of Aloe vera on health outcomes and assess the strength of evidence. PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane database of systematic reviews, CINAHL, and AMED were searched from inception to October, 2019 for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses of clinical trials that investigated the effects of Aloe vera on health outcomes. Two independent reviewers extracted data, assessed the methodological quality, and rated the credibility of evidence according to established criteria. Ten articles reporting 71 unique outcomes of Aloe vera were included. Of these, 47 (67%) were nominally statistically significant based on random‐effects model (p ≤ .05). Only 3 outcomes were supported by highly suggestive evidence, whereas 42 outcomes were supported by weak evidence. The highly suggestive evidence supported benefits of Aloe vera in the prevention of second‐degree infusion phlebitis (RR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.10–0.32, p‐value: 1.75 × 10−9) and chemotherapy‐induced phlebitis based on overall incidence (OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.08–0.20, p‐value: 9.68 × 10−20) and incidence of the second degree of severity (OR: 0.10, 95% CI: 0.07–0.14, p‐value: 3.41 × 10−35). However, the majority of the evidence were limited by small sample size and poor methodological quality. Therefore, despite the overall favorable effect of Aloe vera, more robust studies are needed.
Time between events control charts for gamma distribution
Authors: Shah Muhammad Taqi , Azam Muhammad , Aslam Muhammad , Sherazi Uzma
Published: September 2020

Modern and emerging techniques of technology have brought a revolution in quality inspection of products. When events in highly efficient production processes occur rarely, it requires to inspect and monitor the time between occurrence of these events (TBE). The exponential and gamma distributions are commonly used models for time between events (TBE) data. In this article, a new monitoring scheme has been established for TBE data based on exponential and gamma distributions. In a previous research, transformation‐based control charts have been developed for TBE. The proposed study is aimed to use the exact probability distribution of charting statistic rather than applying transformations to data and this has remained still unaddressed. Average run length (ARL) and percentage decrease in ARL (ΔARL) have been calculated using Monte Carlo simulations and the proposed monitoring method has been compared with existing techniques applied to transformed data. The proposed scheme provides a simpler design structure and better performance on different sample sizes in identifying annoying process variations. Further, the technique has been applied to simulated and real‐life data sets of time between manufacturing plant accidents to highlight the worth and particle applicability of the proposed work.
Hydrogen‐Intercalated Graphene on SiC as Platform for Hybrid Superconductor Devices
Authors: Paschke Fabian , Birk Tobias , Forti Stiven , Starke Ulrich , Fonin Mikhail
Published: September 2020

Nanodevices based on hybrid graphene–superconductor structures have recently attracted much attention owing to both fundamental and application aspects. However, atomic‐level investigations of proximity‐induced superconductivity in graphene, especially on technologically relevant substrates remain rare. Here, the atomic‐scale study of electronic properties and the superconducting proximity effect in hydrogen‐intercalated single‐layer graphene on SiC decorated with epitaxial lead (Pb) islands is reported. The graphene layer is thoroughly characterized by means of Landau level spectroscopy which confirms its quasi‐free‐standing nature. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy performed at 1.8  K on the graphene layer in the vicinity of Pb islands shows a reduced superconducting gap of  meV, which points to a graphene/superconductor junction of moderate transparency. The variations of the proximity‐induced superconducting gap on graphene are measured as function of spatial position as well as of magnetic field strength. Spatially resolved measurements yield a coherence length of about 175 nm in the graphene monolayer. The study provides a foundation for realization of graphene–superconductor heterostructures on large‐scale SiC(0001) wafers suitable for future technological applications.
Homogeneous output‐feedback control with disturbance‐observer for a class of nonlinear systems
Authors: Sanchez Tonametl , Moreno Jaime A.
Published: September 2020

In this article, we propose a finite‐time output‐feedback control scheme for a class of nonlinear systems. The dynamic part of the controller consists of an extended order observer, which is based on the higher order sliding‐mode exact differentiator. With such an observer, the states of the system are exactly estimated in finite‐time; moreover, the additional state in the observer estimates exactly and in finite‐time Lipschitz disturbances in the system. Such an estimation is used by the static part of the controller to compensate the disturbances. The static part of the controller can be chosen from a class of homogeneous controllers. The whole control scheme allows to recover in finite‐time several useful properties of homogeneous systems despite the additional and uncertain nonlinear terms. The effect of the noise in the measurement is also studied.
Sustainability of a navigation channel in the Nile River: A case study in Egypt
Authors: Helal Esam , Elsersawy Hossam , Hamed Enas , Abdelhaleem Fahmy Salah
Published: September 2020

Inland waterways are an environmentally friendly and efficient mode of transport. At locations along the Nile River, Egypt, navigation is hindered requiring expensive, resource‐intensive corrective. An increasing number of navigational bottlenecks have occurred between 1982 and 2015 because of changing river channel morphologies. This study provides a suitable method for evaluating navigation conditions within a reach of the Nile River. A 2D morphological model combined with a geographic information system application was created to assess the navigability of a reach of the Nile River, and different maintenance strategies were evaluated. Different scenarios of varying water levels, dredging operations, flow discharge fluctuations, and river channel morphological changes were considered. Results reveal that dredging operations, alone, cannot be adopted as a permanent solution for navigation bottlenecks, with the riverbed returning to its original state within 10 years. An important output of the method is the generation of reach scale hydro‐morphodynamic maps that show the main morphological features, navigation bottlenecks, and navigation conditions. These maps aid in the development of strategic navigability plans and in evaluating long‐term improvement measures. The method presented is applicability to large river systems worldwide.
Bringing the Science of Reading to Preservice Elementary Teachers: Tools That Bridge Research and Practice
Authors: Hindman Annemarie H. , Morrison Frederick J. , Connor Carol McDonald , Connor Joseph A.
Published: September 2020

Teacher preparation institutions have been critiqued for insufficient emphasis on the science of reading. The authors argue that although improving early reading success and teacher preparation are both critical issues, today’s “science of reading” discourse does not fully capture the complexity of teaching students to read. First, the authors describe the lattice model of reading development, which holds that a collection of text‐based, linguistic, and regulatory processes require interleaved, individualized focus in reading instruction; this is a tall order for early/elementary teachers to deliver. Second, the authors discuss evidence from the broader science of learning that preservice elementary‐grade teachers likely need multiple, highly focused, classroom‐based opportunities for deliberate practice and feedback to be ready to teach reading. Yet, because most are trained as content generalists over just two or three years, such systematic practice in reading may not be available. Thus, it is not simply that new teachers are unaware of effective reading instructional techniques; the more fundamental issue is that these techniques are extremely complex to implement well and that teacher candidates likely need substantial scaffolding to use them. Finally, the authors explore one promising solution: embedding preservice training with focused, targeted interventions around reading instruction that have supported experienced teachers. As examples, the Assessment‐to Instruction and Story Talk programs offer teachers precise, practical guidance, bridging the research on reading and real‐world classroom practice. The authors conclude with design principles that help infuse “science of learning” principles into preservice reading education.
Broadening the Lens on the Science of Reading: A Multifaceted Perspective on the Role of Academic Language in Text Understanding
Authors: Phillips Galloway Emily , McClain Janna Brown , Uccelli Paola
Published: September 2020

Merging evidence from psychological models of reading comprehension, ethnographic research on language and literacy, and textual linguistics lines of research, the authors take the position that psychological models of reading comprehension often overlook written language comprehension and production as context‐embedded, sociocultural processes. Using the example of academic language comprehension by middle grade learners, the authors present a series of studies that have informed the science of reading by making visible a precise set of high‐utility academic language skills that support informational text comprehension during middle childhood (ages 9–14). Studies have suggested that these skills develop gradually throughout adolescence and significantly contribute to reading comprehension. Drawing on this research with the goal of informing the science of reading, the authors suggest that academic language comprehension involves for the reader (a) familiarity with a set of academic language forms commonly found in school texts, (b) experience with the sociocultural practices of understanding and using the academic language of text within a particular sociocultural community, and (c) aligning with or resisting the reader identities implied by the language of a text. The authors suggest that innovative research and pedagogical approaches are needed to broaden the conceptualization of language and reading comprehension relations from purely cognitive into one that embraces the reader’s interaction with a text as a sociocultural phenomenon.
Complexation Modulated Iron Redox Systems for Waste Water Treatment: A Natural Attenuation Model
Authors: Bashir Shabnum , Banday Shazia M. , Mustafa Mohd , Rizvi Masood A.
Published: September 2020

Natural attenuation mimics nature's own cleansing mechanism and offers an effective solution for contaminant treatment under prevalent environmental conditions without generating secondary toxins. Despite obvious advantages, these processes are restricted by a narrow range of reduction potential available within natural water systems. Complexation reaction offers to modulate the redox potential range of transition metals allowing detoxification of persistent contaminants. Consequently, present work describes complexation modulated redox potential of iron systems with environmentally available ligands for degradation of contaminants (textile dyes, antibiotics and toxic metal ions) for a possible application in water treatment under natural attenuation concept. The observed spectrophotometric results are indicative of a significant ligand effect on degradation kinetics of studied contaminants by iron(II) complexes. The kinetic efficacies of iron(II) complexes for contaminant degradation were in the order: aqua<acetate<oxalate<NTA (nitrilotriacetate)<IDA (iminodiacetate)<EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetate). This observed reactivity order of iron(II)complexes corroborates well with their oxidation propensity under the given ligand field (E°=+0.131 to+0.771 V in case of EDTA and aqua ligand respectively). The influence of reaction conditions, nature of contaminant and identification of electroactive species was investigated by using spectro‐electrochemical experiments with selected systems. Two plausible mechanisms of contaminant degradation were proposed:(i)direct reduction of contaminants by iron(II) complexes(ii) and indirect degradation through reaction between iron(II) complexes and dissolved oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species. This modular study besides being an insight in environmental redox processes is also aimed for the impetus towards natural attenuation based treatments for degradation of contaminants, especially under aerobic conditions that are rich in both iron(II) and organic matter.
Design, Synthesis and Pharmacokinetic Study of Deuterated Ticagrelor Derivatives
Authors: Chen Jing , Wang Siyu , Zhang Jianjun , Ying Huazhou , Zheng Hao , Dong Xiaowu , Che Jinxin , Chen Xin , Cheng Gang
Published: September 2020

Ticagrelor is the first reversible P2Y12 receptor antagonist that inhibits ADP‐induced platelet aggregation. In several areas of biomedical research, the deuterium strategy has been employed to slow down the rate of drug metabolism and improve the pharmacokinetic properties of drugs. In the present study, several deuterated analogs of ticagrelor, as well as their prodrugs, were designed and synthesized in order to improve the metabolic stability of ticagrelor. Further in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetic experiments using the deuterated derivates 24 and 25 demonstrated that the metabolic stability of deuterated compounds was improved compared to that of the parent compound. In addition, the half‐life of the deuterated valine ester prodrug 31 (t1/2 =2.54±0.32 h) was significantly lengthened, reaching a value of approximately 40 % longer than that of ticagrelor (t1/2=1.77±0.14 h).
Efficient Inhibition of Re‐blocking During the Deblocking of Blocked Isocyanates
Authors: Aso Fumihiro , Masuda Kohei
Published: September 2020

3‐Silylpropanols bearing allyl or aryl groups on the silicon atom were found to act as isocyanate blocking agents that can allow to deblock with efficient inhibition of re‐blocking. As a result of the inhibition, the isocyanates blocked by 3‐silylpropanols showed an exceptional lower deblocking temperature than by a conventional aliphatic alcohol. The inhibition is based upon the decomposition reaction of 3‐silylpropanols to a 5‐membered cyclic silane and propylene or arene, where β‐silyl cation intermediates may play a key role. The new blocked isocyanates can tolerate water, whereas previously well‐known low‐temperature‐deblockable agents, such as methylethyl ketone oxime (MEKO), are not generally compatible with water.
Childhood co‐exposure of cold stress and PM2.5 aggravates the susceptibility and severity of asthma in adulthood of mice
Authors: Zhou Ji , Xu Jianming , Geng Fuhai , Peng Li , Ye Xiaofang , Yang Dandan , Zhao Jinzhuo , Sun Qinghua
Published: September 2020

Both cold stress and ambient fine particle particulate matter (PM2.5) has been reported to aggravate and induce respiratory problems like asthma, but the mechanism involved in that has not been fully understood. Therefore, the present study is to explore the mechanism involved in the increased susceptibility and severity of asthma caused by cold stress and PM2.5 exposure. Urban PM2.5 of Shanghai was concentrated to simulate a PM2.5‐polluted environment with an average concentration of 400 μg/m3, where 1‐month young C57BL/6J mice were exposed for 2 months under cold stress (2°C). Co‐exposure of cold stress and PM2.5 in childhood of mice led to significant infiltration of inflammatory cells in the peribronchial region or airspaces and the thickening or fibrosis of alveolar septum, increased OVA‐specific IgE in serum and total cells, eosinophil cells, and the levels of inflammatory cytokines including IL‐4, IL‐8, IL‐1β, IL‐5, IL‐13, and IFN‐γ in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asthma mice. Moreover, mice in co‐exposure group presented a significantly high cough feature, reduced catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and elevated malonaldehyde (MDA) elevated in BALF; increased ratio of Th2/Th1 and the markable inhibition of Th17 differentiation toward Treg cells in the adulthood of asthma mice. Cold stress and PM2.5 co‐exposure in childhood may promote the deterioration of asthma symptoms in adulthood of mice by increasing inflammatory cytokines, ROS formation, Th2/Th1 imbalance, and suppressing the differentiation of Th17 toward Treg cells, which will help to provide experimental references when making some therapeutic strategies in allergic diseases through focusing on some natural solutions.
Natural history of levator ani muscle avulsion 4 years following childbirth
Authors: van Gruting I. M. A. , van Delft K. W. M. , Sultan A. H. , Thakar R.
Published: September 2020

Objectives

The primary aim was to evaluate prospectively the natural history of levator ani muscle (LAM) avulsion 4 years following first delivery and its correlation with signs and symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). The secondary aim was to investigate the effect of a second vaginal delivery on the incidence of LAM avulsion and PFD.

Methods

This was a prospective longitudinal study of nulliparous women recruited antenatally, who were assessed at 36 weeks' gestation and 3 months, 1 year and 4 years postpartum for signs and symptoms of PFD and presence of LAM avulsion. Pelvic floor muscle strength was assessed by digital palpation, and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) was assessed using the POP quantification (POP‐Q) system. Validated questionnaires were used to evaluate urinary, bowel and sexual function and symptoms of POP. Transperineal ultrasound was performed to assess LAM integrity and hiatal biometry. Differences in signs and symptoms of PFD over time were evaluated using a linear mixed model, separately in women who had had one delivery and in those who had two or more deliveries during the study period.

Results

Of 269 women recruited, 147 (55%) attended the 4‐year follow‐up and were examined at a mean interval of 3.8 ± 0.4 years after their first delivery. Of these, 74 (50%) had a subsequent delivery. The prevalence of LAM avulsion 4 years after a first vaginal delivery was 13%, with no difference between women who had one and those who had two or more vaginal deliveries. Women with an intact LAM and one or more deliveries showed no change in signs and symptoms of PFD at 4 years compared with the previous assessments. Of women with one vaginal delivery who were diagnosed with LAM avulsion 3 months or 1 year postpartum, those in whom the LAM avulsion was no longer evident at 4 years (42%) showed worsening of POP‐Q measurements, whereas those with persistent LAM avulsion (58%) showed significant worsening in pelvic floor muscle strength and hiatal area on ultrasound. After a second vaginal delivery, no new avulsions were diagnosed, however, previous LAM avulsion became more extensive in 44% of women and hiatal area increased in women with persistent LAM avulsion.

Conclusions

The first vaginal delivery carries the greatest risk for LAM avulsion, with impact on signs of PFD 4 years later. A second vaginal delivery could result in deterioration of LAM avulsion, but no new avulsions were found. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
The application of glycine betaine to alleviate the inhibitory effect of salinity on one‐stage partial nitritation/anammox process
Authors: Zuo Lushen , Yao Hong , Chen Hui , Li Huayu , Jia Fangxu , Guo Jianhua
Published: September 2020

One‐stage partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) has been proposed as a sustainable method for removing nitrogen from various wastewater. However, the activities of ammonium‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and anammox bacteria are often inhibited by the exposure to salinity, thereby hindering their wide application in treating industrial wastewater with high salinity. This study reports that the addition of glycine betaine (GB), which is a compatible solute, could alleviate the inhibitory effects of salinity on both AOB and anammox, thereby improving nitrogen removal performance in a one‐stage PN/A system. Short‐term tests showed that with an addition of GB higher than 1 mM, the activity of AOB and anammox under salinity of 30 g/L could be increased by at least 45% and 51%, respectively. The half‐inhibitory concentration of AOB and anammox rose with increasing GB concentration, with 1 mM GB being the optimal cost‐effective dosage. Long‐term experiments also demonstrated that 1 mM GB addition could enhance nitrogen removal performance and shorten recovery time by 42.9% under a salinity stress of 30 g/L. Collectively, GB addition was found to be a feasible and effective strategy to the counteract adverse effects of salinity on PN/A process.

Practitioner points

Glycine betaine (GB) could improving performance of the PN/A process by alleviating the inhibitory effects of salinity on both AOB and anammox bacteria.

A GB concentration of 1 mM was found to be optimum in terms of effectiveness and cost.

GB addition was a feasible and effective strategy to remain stabilized in the community structure of PN/A sludge.

GB could optimize the nitrogen removal performance and shorten the recovery time of PN/A process under saline stress.
Application of the R‐functions in free vibration analysis of FGM plates and shallow shells with temperature dependent properties
Authors: Awrejcewicz Jan , Kurpa Lidiya , Shmatko Tetyana
Published: September 2020

The free vibration of plates and shallow shells with/without cutouts made of functionally graded materials (FGM) is investigated using variational FG shallow shells with temperature dependent mechanical characteristics of the constituent materials. First‐order shear deformation theory of shallow shells is employed. It is supposed that material properties vary through thickness according to a power‐law distribution of the constituent's volume fraction. They depend on both the temperature and the thickness. Temperature field is modeled by one‐dimensional heat transfer equation, since the temperature is varied only in thickness direction. Solution of this equation is determined by a polynomial power series expansion. Corresponding software was developed to implement the proposed approach. The vibration analysis was carried out for FG plates and shallow shells with cutout and various boundary conditions.
Gold and tin mineralisation in the ultramafic-hosted Cheoeum vent field, Central Indian Ridge
Authors: Choi Sun Ki , Pak Sang Joon , Kim Jonguk , Park Jung-Woo , Son Seung-Kyu
Published: September 2020

The Cheoeum vent field (CVF) is the first example of an inactive ultramafic-hosted seafloor massive sulphide (SMS) deposit identified in the middle part of the Central Indian Ridge. Here, we report on the detailed mineralogy and geochemistry of ultramafic-hosted sulphide sample atop a chimney, together with a few small fragments. Hydrothermal chimneys are characterised by high concentrations of Au (up to 17.8 ppm) and Sn (up to 1720 ppm). The sulphide mineralisation in the CVF shows (1) early precipitation of anhedral sphalerite and pyrite–marcasite aggregates under relatively low-temperature (< 250 °C) fluid conditions; (2) intensive deposition of subhedral pyrrhotite, isocubanite, chalcopyrite, Fe-rich sphalerite (Sp-III), and electrum from high-temperature (250–365 °C) and reduced fluids in the main mineralisation stage; and (3) a seawater alteration stage distinguished by the mineral assemblage of marcasite pseudomorphs, altered isocubanite phase, covellite, amorphous silica, and Fe-oxyhydroxides. Electrum (< 2 μm in size) is the principal form of Au mineralisation and is mainly associated with the main mineralisation stage. The consistently high fineness of electrum (801 to 909‰) is indicative of the selective saturation of Au over Ag in the fluid during high-temperature mineralisation, which differs from the Au mineralisation associated with typical basaltic-hosted hydrothermal systems on mid-ocean ridges. Tin is mainly substituted in structures of sphalerite, isocubanite, and chalcopyrite as a solid solution, and not as mineral inclusions. The continuously ascending hydrothermal fluids enable the early formed Sn-bearing sulphide to be dissolved and reprecipitated, producing significantly Sn-enriched replacement boundaries between isocubanite and Sp-III. This study suggests that Au–Sn mineralisation could be facilitated by the low redox potential of ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal systems such as in the CVF, which may be a common occurrence along slow-spreading mid-ocean ridges.
Seasonal and daily shifts in behavior and resource selection: how a carnivore navigates costly landscapes
Authors: Ellington E. Hance , Muntz Erich M. , Gehrt Stanley D.
Published: September 2020

The dynamic environmental conditions in highly seasonal systems likely have a strong influence on how species use the landscape. Animals must balance seasonal and daily changes to landscape risk with the underlying resources provided by that landscape. One way to balance the seasonal and daily changes in the costs and benefits of a landscape is through behaviorally-explicit resource selection and temporal partitioning. Here, we test whether resource selection of coyotes (Canis latrans) in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia, Canada is behaviorally-explicit and responsive to the daily and seasonal variation to presumed costs and benefits of moving on the landscape. We used GPS data and local convex hulls to estimate space use and Hidden Markov Models to estimate three types of movement behavior: encamped, foraging, and traveling. We then used integrated step-selection analysis to investigate behaviorally explicit resource selection across times of day (diurnal, crepuscular, and nocturnal) and season (snow-free and snow). We found that throughout the day and seasonally coyotes shifted foraging behavior and altered behavior and resource choices to avoid moving across what we could be a challenging landscape. These changes in behavior suggest that coyotes have a complex response to land cover, terrain, and linear corridors that are not only scale dependent but also vary by behavior, diel period, and season. By examining the resource selection across three axes (behavior, time of day, and season), we have a more nuanced understanding of how a predator balances the cost and benefits of a stochastic environment.
Estimating the monetary value of health and capability well-being applying the well-being valuation approach
Authors: Himmler Sebastian , van Exel Job , Brouwer Werner
Published: September 2020

Background

Quality of life measures going beyond health, like the ICECAP-A, are gaining importance in health technology assessment. The assessment of the monetary value of gains in this broader quality of life is needed to use these measurements in a cost-effectiveness framework.

Methods

We applied the well-being valuation approach to calculate a first monetary value for capability well-being in comparison to health, derived by ICECAP-A and EQ-5D-5L, respectively. Data from an online survey administered in February 2018 to a representative sample of UK citizens aged 18–65 was used (N = 1512). To overcome the endogeneity of income, we applied an instrumental variable regression. Several alternative model specifications were calculated to test the robustness of the results.

Results

The base case empirical estimate for the implied monetary value of a year in full capability well-being was £66,597. The estimate of the monetary value of a QALY, obtained from the same sample and using the same methodology amounted to £30,786, which compares well to previous estimates from the willingness to pay literature. Throughout the conducted robustness checks, the value of capability well-being was found to be between 1.7 and 2.6 times larger than the value of health.

Conclusion

While the applied approach is not without limitations, the generated insights, especially concerning the relative magnitude of valuations, may be useful for decision-makers having to decide based on economic evaluations using the ICECAP-A measure or, to a lesser extent, other (capability) well-being outcome measures.