bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cognitive and non‐cognitive factors in educational and occupational outcomes—Specific to reading disability?
Authors: Kortteinen Hanna , Eklund Kenneth , Eloranta Anna‐Kaija , Aro Tuija
Published: November 2020

Low education and unemployment are common adult‐age outcomes associated with childhood RD (c‐RD). However, adult‐age cognitive and non‐cognitive factors associated with different outcomes remain unknown. We studied whether these outcomes are equally common among individuals with c‐RD and controls and whether these outcomes are related to adult‐age literacy skills or cognitive and non‐cognitive factors or their interaction with c‐RD. We examined adult participants with c‐RD (n = 48) and their matched controls (n = 37). Low education was more common among c‐RD than the controls, whereas long‐term unemployment was equally common in both groups. Moreover, adult‐age literacy skills, cognitive skills and non‐cognitive factors were related to both low education and long‐term unemployment. Only a few c‐RD‐specific associations emerged: c‐RD, especially in interaction with low verbal or reading comprehension, was associated with low education, and c‐RD in interaction with slow adult‐age reading was associated with long‐term unemployment. Avoidant coping style, emotional wellbeing and social functioning were related to education, and life‐satisfaction to unemployment irrespective of c‐RD. Thus, the non‐cognitive factors associated with education and employment are similar in individuals with and without c‐RD. Special attention should be paid to training c‐RD individuals in basic academic, social and emotional skills.
Foliar fungal endophyte community structure is independent of phylogenetic relatedness in an Asteraceae common garden
Authors: Whitaker Briana K. , Christian Natalie , Chai Qing , Clay Keith
Published: November 2020

Phylogenetic distance among host species represents a proxy for host traits that act as biotic filters to shape host‐associated microbiome community structure. However, teasing apart potential biotic assembly mechanisms, such as host specificity or local species interactions, from abiotic factors, such as environmental specificity or dispersal barriers, in hyperdiverse, horizontally transmitted microbiomes remains a challenge. In this study, we tested whether host phylogenetic relatedness among 18 native Asteraceae plant species and spatial distance between replicated plots in a common garden affects foliar fungal endophyte (FFE) community structure. We found that FFE community structure varied significantly among host species, as well as host tribes, but not among host subfamilies. However, FFE community dissimilarity between host individuals was not significantly correlated with phylogenetic distance between host species. There was a significant effect of spatial distance among host individuals on FFE community dissimilarity within the common garden. The significant differences in FFE community structure among host species, but lack of a significant host phylogenetic effect, suggest functional differences among host species not accounted for by host phylogenetic distance, such as metabolic traits or phenology, may drive FFE community dissimilarity. Overall, our results indicate that host species identity and the spatial distance between plants can determine the similarity of their microbiomes, even across a single experimental field, but that host phylogeny is not closely tied to FFE community divergence in native Asteraceae.
Investigating the beneficial effect of aliskiren in attenuating neuropathic pain in diabetic Sprague‐Dawley rats
Authors: Alkhudhayri Shouq , Sajini Rania , Alharbi Bashayer , Qabbani Jumana , Al‐Hindi Yosra , Fairaq Arwa , Yousef Amal
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Worldwide, diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a major complication of diabetes mellitus. The direct renin inhibitor aliskiren is recognized as a treatment for cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients, but little is known about its potential benefits in cases of diabetic neuropathy. Accordingly, we investigated the effects of aliskiren (ALIS) and gliclazide (GLZ) and their combination therapy on peripheral neuropathy in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats.

Methods

In total, 112 adult Sprague‐Dawley rats were used for this study. Diabetes was induced using streptozotocin (STZ), whereas the control group was treated with an equal volume of citrate buffer. The diabetic rats were divided randomly into six groups according to the proposed treatment regime: diabetic control (DC), gliclazide (GLZ), aliskiren (ALIS), ramipril (RAM), (GLZ + ALIS) and (GLZ + RAM). Behavioural responses to thermal (hot‐plate) and mechanical (tail‐pinch) pain were evaluated. After eight weeks of daily treatments, the animals were fasted and sacrificed. The blood samples were collected, with the serum separated and subjected to various biochemical and enzyme analyses so as to assess the effect of the treatments on diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Results

After 8 weeks, aliskiren alone and in combination with gliclazide therapy had a significant effect (P < .001) in reducing blood glucose levels and showed increased hot‐plate and tail‐flick latencies compared with the diabetic control group. The threshold of mechanical hyperalgesia was also significantly elevated (P < .001).

Conclusions/Interpretations

These data suggest that either aliskerin alone or in combination with gliclazide can protect against the development and progression of diabetic neuropathy.
Recent trends of biocompatible triboelectric nanogenerators toward self‐powered e‐skin
Authors: Ganesh R. Sankar , Yoon Hong‐Joon , Kim Sang‐Woo
Published: November 2020

The development of biocompatible electronic skin (e‐skin) is foremost to next generation bio‐electronics that enables diverse applications in wearable, medical, artificial intelligence, and human machine interface. As serving a multifunctional platform, numerous types of electronic components (eg, sensors, actuators, etc.) required in e‐skin, which requires users to power them in a regular manner. In this regard, researchers recently have reported compact, light, flexible, and stretchable energy harvesters are expected to revolutionize the market in wearable electronics, in particular for e‐skin. The self‐powered e‐skin can power by itself, without any external energy from other devices. In this review, the recent progress of triboelectric nanogenerators based on diverse materials such as hydrogel, healable, stretchable, biocompatible, and biodegradable for developing self‐powered e‐skin is discussed.

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Numerical analysis of a built‐in thermal storage system of metal hydride and nanoparticles enhanced phase change material and nanofluid
Authors: Elarem Raja , Alqahtani Talal , Mellouli Sofiene , Edacherian Abhilash , Askri Faouzi , Jemni Abdelmajid
Published: November 2020

This study presents the numerical investigation of the performance improvement of Metal Hydride (MH) bed equipped with nano‐enhanced phase change material (NePCM) jacket for heat reaction recovery via U‐tube heat exchanger using Nanofluid. In this study, Mg2NiH6 is used as an MH bed, sodium nitrate (NaNO₃) as heat storage medium (PCM), and sodium‐potassium nitrate (60% NaNO₃‐40% KNO₃) as a heat transfer fluid (HTF). A computational model for this system is developed and validated. Furthermore, the hydriding of the MH bed, the melting of NePCM, and the overall heat transfer characteristics are simulated. With this model, the effect of a few types of nanoparticle additives on the hydriding process is investigated. The nanoparticles of iron oxide (Fe2O3) and copper oxide (CuO) are dispersed at various concentrations (to a range of 0‐1.5 wt.%) in the HTF. Further, CuO and graphene nanoparticles are added to the PCM to a range of 0 to 5 wt.%. The simulation shows that a reduction of hydriding process time by 33.5% is possible by using this MH‐Nanofluid‐NePCM system in comparison with a conventional MH bed system. The use of nanoparticles in the HTF, at an optimum flow rate, did not show a significant effect on the enhancement of the hydriding process. Also, the results show that CuO‐PCM composite has a greater impact in decreasing the time of complete hydriding relative to graphene‐PCM composite.
Scenarios as narratives
Authors: Beach Lee Roy
Published: November 2020

Scenarios can be viewed as narratives about alternative futures. As such, they are a formalization of something everybody does naturally as they think about the future—imagine what might happen instead of what they expect to happen, and figure out how to make the alternative happen instead, if it is better than what is expected, or how to make sure it does not happen (or what to do if it does happen), if it is worse than what is expected. On the assumption that understanding this natural form of thinking ahead may be useful to those involved in scenario planning, the structure and uses of narrative thought are discussed, particularly in regard to how they result in what are commonly referred to as cognitive biases and to problems of reaching consensus in groups.
Fisetin: An anticancer perspective
Authors: Imran Muhammad , Saeed Farhan , Gilani Syed Amir , Shariati Mohammad Ali , Imran Ali , Afzaal Muhammad , Atif Muhammad , Tufail Tabussam , Anjum Faqir M.
Published: November 2020

Despite the provision of safe and cost‐effective chemopreventive cancer approaches, still there are requirements to enhance their efficiency. The use of dietary agents as phytochemicals plays an imperative role against different human cancer cell lines. Among these novel dietary agents, fisetin (3,3′,4′,7‐tetrahydroxyflavone) is present in different fruits and vegetables such as apple, persimmon, grape, strawberry, cucumber, and onion. Being a potent anticancer agent, fisetin has been used to inhibit stages in the cancer cells (proliferation, invasion), prevent cell cycle progression, inhibit cell growth, induce apoptosis, cause polymerase (PARP) cleavage, and modulate the expressions of Bcl‐2 family proteins in different cancer cell lines (HT‐29, U266, MDA‐MB‐231, BT549, and PC‐3M‐luc‐6), respectively. Further, fisetin also suppresses the activation of the PKCα/ROS/ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways, reduces the NF‐κB activation, and down‐regulates the level of the oncoprotein securin. Fisetin also inhibited cell division and proliferation and invasion as well as lowered the TET1 expression levels. The current review article highlights and discusses the anticancer role of fisetin in cell cultures and animal and human studies. Conclusively, fisetin as a polyphenol with pleiotropic pharmacological properties showed promising anticancer activity in a wide range of cancers. Fisetin suppresses the cancer cell stages, prevents progression in cell cycle and cell growth, and induces apoptosis.
Effects of simultaneous and sequential cofermentation of Wickerhamomyces anomalus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on physicochemical and flavor properties of rice wine
Authors: Chen Lihua , Li Dongna , Ren Lixia , Song Shiqing , Ma Xia , Rong Yuzhi
Published: November 2020

Microorganism species and inoculation fermentation methods have great influence on physicochemical and flavor properties of rice wine. Thus, this work investigated microbial interactions and physicochemical and aroma changes of rice wine through different inoculation strategies of Wickerhamomyces anomalus (W. anomalus) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae). The results underlined that inoculation strategies and non‐Saccharomyces yeasts all affected the volatile acidity, total acidity, and alcohol content of rice wine. The sequential cofermentation consumed relatively more sugar and resulted in the higher ethanol content, causing reduced thiols and increased alcohols, esters, phenylethyls, and terpenes, which was more conducive to improve rice wine flavor than simultaneous cofermentation. Moreover, simultaneous cofermentation increased fatty aroma of rice wine, while sequential cofermentation increased mellow and cereal‐like flavor. These results confirmed that sequential cofermentation of S. cerevisiae and W. anomalus was a choice for the future production of rice wine with good flavor and quality.
Predementia constructs: Mild cognitive impairment or mild neurocognitive disorder? A narrative review
Authors: Bermejo‐Pareja Félix , Contador Israel , del Ser Teodoro , Olazarán Javier , Llamas‐Velasco Sara , Vega Saturio , Benito‐León Julián
Published: November 2020

Background

Predementia is a heuristic umbrella concept to classify older adults with cognitive impairment who do not suffer dementia. Many diagnostic entities have been proposed to address this concept, but most of them have not had widespread acceptance.

Aims

To review clinical definitions, epidemiologic data (prevalence, incidence) and rate of conversion to dementia of the main predementia constructs, with special interest in the two most frequently used: mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and minor neurocognitive disorder (miNCD).

Methods

We have selected in three databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science and Google scholar) the references from inception to 31 December 2019 of relevant reviews, population and community‐based surveys, and clinical series with >500 participants and >3 years follow‐up as the best source of evidence.

Main results

The history of predementia constructs shows that MCI is the most referred entity. It is widely recognized as a clinical syndrome harbinger of dementia of several etiologies, mainly MCI due to Alzheimer's disease. The operational definition of MCI has shortcomings: vagueness of its requirement of “preserved independence in functional abilities” and others. The recent miNCD construct presents analogous difficulties. Current data indicate that it is a stricter predementia condition, with lower prevalence than MCI, less sensitivity to cognitive decline and, possibly, higher conversion rate to dementia.

Conclusions

MCI is a widely employed research and clinical entity. Preliminary data indicate that the clinical use of miNCD instead of MCI requires more scientific evidence. Both approaches have common limitations that need to be addressed.
Tuning the Photophysical Properties of Spirolactam Rhodamine Photoswitches
Authors: Li Bo , Haris Uroob , Aljowni Maha , Nakatsuka Andrew , Patel Shreya K. , Lippert Alexander R.
Published: November 2020

Spirolactam rhodamines are fluorescent photoswitches that are useful for single molecule localization microscopy, volumetric 3D digital light photoactivatable dye displays, and other applications. Measurement of the photophysical properties, particularly photoswitching kinetics and quantum yields, is challenging and a comprehensive understanding of how molecular structure affects these parameters remains incomplete. In this study, we have synthesized a series of N‐aryl spirolactam rhodamine photoswitches with fluorescent emissions at 585 nm and 518 nm. Extinction coefficients and fluorescence quantum yields of the fluorescent form of the photoswitch have been measured using excess trifluoroacetic acid to drive the equilibrium to the open form. A method to determine photoswitching kinetics and quantum yields was developed by monitoring the kinetics to reach equilibrium between the on‐state and off‐state and fitting this data to a rate equation for a reaction in equilibrium. Trends based on the electronic and steric properties of the aryl substituents were evaluated. Using this information, a proof‐of‐principle demonstration of 3D voxel formation was accomplished using a green (518 nm) emitting photoswitch, setting the foundation for a multi‐colour volumetric 3D display.
Telehealth mask wearing training for children with autism during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Sivaraman Maithri , Virues‐Ortega Javier , Roeyers Herbert
Published: November 2020

SARS‐CoV‐2 is the virus causing COVID‐19 and is spread through close person‐to‐person contact. The use of face masks has been described as an important strategy to slow its transmission. We evaluated the effects of coaching caregivers via telehealth technologies to teach face mask wearing to children with autism spectrum disorder. Six participants with a history of challenging behavior associated with mask wearing were recruited from different parts of the world, and trained using graduated exposure, shaping, and contingent reinforcement. By the end of the intervention, all participants wore a face mask for a period of 10 min without exhibiting challenging behavior. The skills generalized to a novel mask or a community setting. Mask wearing did not affect the percentage of oxyhemoglobin saturation of participants, and caregivers found the intervention useful. The findings support previous tolerance training treatment evaluations in children with developmental disorders exhibiting resistance to healthcare routines.
3D‐printed cryomilled poly(ε‐caprolactone)/graphene composite scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration
Authors: Dias Daniela , Vale Ana C. , Cunha Eunice P. F. , C. Paiva Maria , Reis Rui L. , Vaquette Cedryck , Alves Natália M.
Published: November 2020

In this study, composite scaffolds based on poly(caprolactone) (PCL) and non‐covalently functionalized few‐layer graphene (FLG) were manufactured by an extrusion‐based system for the first time. For that, functionalized FLG powder was obtained through the evaporation of a functionalized FLG aqueous suspension prepared from a graphite precursor. Cryomilling was shown to be an efficient mixing method, producing a homogeneous dispersion of FLG particles onto the PCL polymeric matrix. Thereafter, fused deposition modeling (FDM) was used to print 3D scaffolds and their morphology, thermal, biodegradability, mechanical, and cytotoxicity properties were analysed. The presence of functionalized FLG demonstrated to induce slight changes in the microstructure of the scaffold, did not affect the thermal stability and enhanced significantly the compressive modulus. The composite scaffolds presented a porosity of around 40% and a mean pore size in the range of 300 μm. The cell viability and proliferation of SaOs‐2 cells were assessed and the results showed good cell viability and long‐term proliferation onto produced composite scaffolds. Therefore, these new FLG/PCL scaffolds comprised adequate morphological, thermal, mechanical, and biological properties to be used in bone tissue regeneration.
Bioinspired antibacterial surface for orthopedic and dental implants
Authors: Elliott Drew T. , Wiggins Russell J. , Dua Rupak
Published: November 2020

Bacterial infections still present a significant concern in orthopedic and dental implant failure. Previous investigations have focused on modifying the surface texture, roughness, or coating implants with antibiotics to provide enhanced anti‐bacterial properties. However, they have demonstrated limited success. In this study, we attempted to engineer the titanium (Ti) alloy surface biomimetically at the nano level using alkaline hydrothermal treatment (AHT) inspired by cicada's wing structure. Two modified surfaces of Ti plates were developed using 4 and 8‐hr AHT at 230°C. We found that the control plates showed a relatively smooth surface, with little artifacts on the surface. In contrast, 4‐hr AHT and 8‐hr AHT plates showed nano‐spikes of heights around 250–350 and 100–1,250 nm, respectively, that were distributed randomly all over the surface. We found a statistically significant (p < 0.05) number of non‐viable cells for both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa bacterial strains when incubated for 1 hr in a dynamic environment when compared with the control group. The 8‐hr AHT groups killed 38.97% more S. aureus in static culture and 11.27% in a dynamic environment than the 4‐hr AHT. Overall, the findings indicate that the nanostructures generated on titanium by the AHT showed significant bactericidal properties. We, therefore, recommend conducting alkaline hydrothermal treatment on the surfaces for future orthopedic and dental metallic implants.
The emerging role of miR‐128 in musculoskeletal diseases
Authors: Shang Qi , Shen Gengyang , Chen Guifeng , Zhang Zhida , Yu Xiang , Zhao Wenhua , Zhang Peng , Chen Honglin , Tang Kai , Yu Fuyong , Tang Jingjing , Liang De , Jiang Xiaobing , Ren Hui
Published: November 2020

MicroRNA‐128 (miR‐128) is associated with cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, apoptosis, and survival. Genetic analysis studies have demonstrated that miR‐128 participates in bone metabolism, which involves bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and adipocytes. miR‐128 also participates in regeneration of skeletal muscles by targeting myoblast‐associated proteins. The deregulation of miR‐128 could lead to a series of musculoskeletal diseases. In this review, we discuss recent findings of miR‐128 in relation to bone metabolism and muscle regeneration to determine its potential therapeutic effects in musculoskeletal diseases, and to propose directions for future research in this significant field.
Identification of key signaling pathways induced by SARS-CoV2 that underlie thrombosis and vascular injury in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Maxwell Anthony J , Ding Jiahui , You Yuan , Dong Zhong , Chehade Hussein , Alvero Ayesha , Mor Yechiel , Draghici Sorin , Mor Gil
Published: November 2020

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths and billions of dollars in economic damage. The immune response elicited from this virus is poorly understood. An alarming number of cases have arisen where COVID-19 patients develop complications on top of the symptoms already associated with SARS, such as thrombosis, injuries of vascular system, kidney, and liver, as well as Kawasaki disease. In this review, a bioinformatics approach was used to elucidate the immune response triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection in primary human lung epithelial and transformed human lung alveolar. Additionally, examined the potential mechanism behind several complications that have been associated with COVID-19 and determined that a specific cytokine storm is leading to excessive neutrophil recruitment. These neutrophils are directly leading to thrombosis, organ damage, and complement activation via neutrophil extracellular trap release.
Tibial cartilage, subchondral bone plate and trabecular bone microarchitecture in varus‐ and valgus‐osteoarthritis versus controls
Authors: Rapagna Sophie , Roberts Bryant C. , Solomon Lucian B. , Reynolds Karen J. , Thewlis Dominic , Perilli Egon
Published: November 2020

This preliminary study quantified tibia cartilage thickness (Cart.Th), subchondral bone plate thickness (SBPl.Th) and subchondral trabecular bone (STB) microarchitecture in subjects with varus‐ or valgus‐ malaligned knees diagnosed with end‐stage knee osteoarthritis (OA) and compared them to controls (non‐OA). Tibial plateaus from 25 subjects with knee‐OA (undergoing knee arthroplasty) and 15 cadavers (controls) were micro‐CT scanned (17 µm/voxel). Joint alignment was classified radiographically for OA subjects (varus‐aligned n = 18, valgus‐aligned n = 7). Cart.Th, SBPl.Th, STB bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and their medial‐to‐lateral ratios were analyzed in anteromedial, anterolateral, posteromedial and posterolateral subregions. Varus‐OA and valgus‐OA were compared to controls. Compared to controls (1.19–1.54 mm), Cart.Th in varus‐OA was significantly lower anteromedially (0.58 mm, −59%) and higher laterally (2.19–2.47 mm, +60–63%); in valgus‐OA, Cart.Th was significantly higher posteromedially (1.86 mm, +56%). Control medial‐to‐lateral Cart.Th ratios were around unity (0.8–1.1), in varus‐OA significantly below (0.2–0.6) and in valgus‐OA slightly above (1.0–1.3) controls. SBPl.Th and BV/TV were significantly higher medially in varus‐OA (0.58‐0.72 mm and 37–44%, respectively) and laterally in valgus‐OA (0.60–0.61 mm and 32–37%), compared to controls (0.26–0.47 mm and 18–37%). In varus‐OA, the medial‐to‐lateral SBPl.Th and BV/TV ratios were above unity (1.4–2.4) and controls (0.8–2.1); in valgus‐OA they were closer to unity (0.8‐1.1) and below controls. Varus‐ and valgus‐OA tibia differ significantly from controls in Cart.Th, SBPl.Th and STB microarchitecture depending on joint alignment, suggesting structural changes in OA may reflect differences in medial‐to‐lateral load distribution upon the tibial plateau. Here we identified an inverse relationship between cartilage thickness and underlying subchondral bone, suggesting a whole‐joint response in OA to daily stimuli.
Influence of metamictization on the gemological properties of natural zircon: A Raman spectroscopic study of zircons in the gemological collection of Abraham Gottlob Werner
Authors: Gao Shijia , Heide Gerhard
Published: November 2020

Raman spectroscopy is a convenient, efficient, and non‐destructive technique that could estimate the metamictization degree of zircon, particularly for gem‐class or historical samples. The full width at half maximum value of the ν3(SiO4) band around 1000 cm−1 can classify the structural state of zircon as crystallized (the full width at half maximum value is less than 5 cm−1), intermediate (the full width at half maximum value ranges from 5 to 15 cm−1), and metamict (the full width at half maximum value is more than 15 cm−1). This study focuses on the zircon samples from Sri Lanka in the gemological collection of Abraham Gottlob Werner. These samples show red to green, according to the Munsell color system and the CIEL*C*h* color system, and their density is from 4.07 to 4.87 g/cm3. Comparing the color and metamictization degree data of zircon samples, crystallized zircon displays a more red tone with yellow. The green tone in zircon occurs with metamictization. The density of zircon could be an indicator of the metamictization degree as crystallized zircon is 4.57 to 4.70 g/cm3 in a 95% confidence interval, which matches the theoretical density (4.61–4.76 g/cm3) better, whereas metamict zircons present a density of 4.37–4.59 g/cm3, and the density of zircon decreases with metamictization. The metamictization has a significant influence on the gemological properties of zircon, whereas the typical color tone and low density can be a sign of the metamictization.
Solving complex optimal control problems with nonlinear controls using trigonometric functions
Authors: Mall Kshitij , Grant Michael J. , Taheri Ehsan
Published: November 2020

This study investigates the use of trigonometric functions to resolve two major issues encountered when solving practical optimal control problems (OCPs) that are characterized by nonlinear controls. First, OCPs with constraints on nonlinear controls require the solution to a multipoint boundary value problem, which poses additional computational difficulties. Second, in certain unconstrained OCPs with nonlinear controls, the extremum found from the necessary conditions can be opposite than expected (e.g., a maximum instead of a minimum) due to the absence of control options. The aforementioned issues and their effective resolution by using trigonometric functions are explained through two examples including a second‐order system problem and an aerocapture problem of a slender entry vehicle in the Martian atmosphere.
Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine to strengthen conservation outcomes
Authors: Cheung Hubert , Doughty Hunter , Hinsley Amy , Hsu Elisabeth , Lee Tien Ming , Milner‐Gulland E. J. , Possingham Hugh P. , Biggs Duan
Published: November 2020

Numerous treatments in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) involve the use of wildlife products, including some that utilize ingredients derived from endangered flora and fauna. Demand for such endangered wildlife products in TCM can threaten the survival of species and pose serious challenges for conservation.

Chinese medical practice is embedded in the cultural fabric of many societies in East and Southeast Asia, and remains an integral part of everyday life and knowledge. It is grounded in principles and theories that have grown over hundreds of years and differ substantially from those of mainstream allopathic biomedicine.

In order to address the threats posed by the medicinal consumption of endangered wildlife, conservation scientists and practitioners will benefit from a basic understanding of TCM. Such knowledge will enable conservationists to craft culturally nuanced solutions and to engage constructively with TCM stakeholders. However, conservationists typically lack familiarity with TCM as the incompatibility of many TCM concepts with those of the biomedical sciences poses a barrier to understanding.

In this paper, we examine the core theories and practices of TCM in order to make TCM more accessible to conservation scientists and practitioners. A better understanding of TCM will enable conservationists to deliver more effective and lasting conservation outcomes.

A freePlain Language Summarycan be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
A nonparametric triple exponentially weighted moving average sign control chart
Authors: Alevizakos Vasileios , Chatterjee Kashinath , Koukouvinos Christos
Published: November 2020

Nonparametric control charts are used in process monitoring when there is insufficient information about the form of the underlying distribution. In this article, we propose a triple exponentially weighted moving average (TEWMA) control chart based on the sign statistic for monitoring the location parameter of an unknown continuous distribution. The run‐length characteristics of the proposed chart are evaluated performing Monte Carlo simulations. We also compare its statistical performance with existing nonparametric sign charts, such as the cumulative sum (CUSUM), exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA), generally weighted moving average (GWMA), and double exponentially weighted moving average (DEWMA) sign charts as well as the parametric TEWMA‐ chart. The results show that the TEWMA sign chart is superior to its competitors, especially for small shifts. Moreover, two examples are given to demonstrate the application of the new scheme.
Domestic material consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the EU‐28 countries: Implications for environmental sustainability targets
Authors: Alola Andrew Adewale , Akadiri Seyi Saint , Usman Ojonugwa
Published: November 2020

In spite of the achievements of the European Union (EU) member countries with respect to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2030 targets, the member countries have reportedly under‐performed in a specific drive towards the SDG 12 (Sustainable Consumption and Production [SCP]). In advancing evidence to this insight, the current study examines the role of domestic material consumption, income and renewable energy utilisation in the panel of the EU‐28 environmental sustainability targets. In specific, we find that domestic material consumption worsens the bloc's environmental quality in both the immediate and long term. Although an increase in per capita income level aids environmental sustainability in the long term, the short‐run effect shows that per capita income growth triggers greenhouse gas emissions. The study further reveals that while cleaner energy development (renewables) improves the countries' environmental sustainability in both the short and long run, the level of real income is yet detrimental to environmental quality. Moreover, consumption of domestic materials, the share of renewable energy utilisation and real income contribute to greenhouse gas emissions in countries like Czech Republic, Lithuania and Malta. Thus, this study suggests country‐specific policies that primarily target domestic consumption and cleaner energy development to achieve environmental sustainability targets among the EU member states.
Intrinsic Magnetic Order of Chemically Exfoliated 2D Ruddlesden–Popper Organic–Inorganic Halide Perovskite Ultrathin Films
Authors: Kim Ki‐Yeon , Park Garam , Cho Jaehun , Kim Joonwoo , Kim June‐Seo , Jung Jinyong , Park Kwonjin , You Chun‐Yeol , Oh In‐Hwan
Published: November 2020

Thin film fabrication of 2D layered organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites (2D‐OIHPs) for spintronic applications has been attempted using solution‐based process like Langmuir–Blodgett technique. However, monolayer or few‐layered 2D magnets are not yet realized, even though a wide spectrum of 2D Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) OIHPs are known as quasi‐2D Heisenberg magnets in bulk compounds. Here, chemical exfoliation by solvent engineering is applied to successfully synthesize large‐sized, few unit‐cell‐thick 2D RP‐OIHPs. Comprehensive structural characterization reveals that binary co‐solvents with high relative polarity in spin coating technique are the most effective among nine kinds of solvents. Above all, this enables few‐layered 2D RP‐OIHP ultrathin films sustaining their intrinsic magnetic order. It is found that XY‐like magnetic anisotropy driven by Jahn–Teller effect responsible for ferromagnetism in seven‐layered (C6H5CH2CH2NH3)2CuCl4 ultrathin films remains very robust, whereas Ising‐like dipolar anisotropy responsible for canted antiferromagnetism in ten‐layered (C6H5CH2CH2NH3)2MnCl4 ultrathin films is greatly reduced. It is expected that ferromagnetism even at monolayer limit should be possible by means of further sophisticated solvent engineering as long as Jahn–Teller effect is active. The chemical exfoliation using solvent engineering unambiguously can bring about a new breakthrough in the development of 2D RP‐OIHP van der Waals magnets for ultrahigh energy‐efficient spintronic, opto‐spintronic devices.
Investigating the Effect of Cementite Particle Size and Distribution on Local Stress and Strain Evolution in Spheroidized Medium Carbon Steels using Crystal Plasticity‐Based Numerical Simulations
Authors: Umar Muhammad , Qayyum Faisal , Farooq Muhammad Umer , Khan Liaquat Ali , Guk Sergey , Prahl Ulrich
Published: November 2020

Herein, micromechanical material deformation behavior of medium carbon steel—with varying cementite particle size and distribution—under monotonic tensile load is modeled. The statistical phase morphology data are collected from the microscopy images of 83% spheroidized C45EC steel. Virtual microstructures for nine different cases are constructed using Dream.3D by varying the concentrations of small, large, and bimodal cementite particles on the ferrite grain boundaries. A crystal plasticity‐based numerical simulation model, i.e., DAMASK, is used to simulate the local material deformation behavior. The material model parameters for elastic–plastic ferrite and elastic cementite phases are adopted from the literature and calibrated by modifying the fitting parameters to match the experimentally observed material flow curve. It is observed that the cementite particle size and distribution in the primary phase affect the local mechanical behavior of the material. An analysis of deformation at 20% of global strain has helped in the qualitative understanding of factors affecting the stress and strain concentration points. The evolution of stresses and strains in the least and the most stressed representative volume elements (RVEs) has provided interesting information regarding the path followed by the dislocation movement during deformation. The study has provided insight into the factors affecting the material's global and local deformation behavior.
Creating optimal conditions for reproducible data analysis in R with ‘fertile’
Authors: Bertin Audrey M. , Baumer Benjamin S.
Published: November 2020

The advancement of scientific knowledge increasingly depends on ensuring that data‐driven research is reproducible: that two people with the same data obtain the same results. However, while the necessity of reproducibility is clear, there are significant behavioral and technical challenges that impede its widespread implementation and no clear consensus on standards of what constitutes reproducibility in published research. We presentfertile, an R package that focuses on a series of common mistakes programmers make while conducting data science projects in R, primarily through the RStudio integrated development environment.fertileoperates in two modes: proactively, to prevent reproducibility mistakes from happening in the first place, and retroactively, analyzing code that is already written for potential problems. Furthermore,fertileis designed to educate users on why their mistakes are problematic and how to fix them.
2020 and the prospect of a ‘COVID Christmas’
Authors: Kirby Roger
Published: November 2020

In this editorial, Roger Kirby, Editor‐in‐Chief for Trends in Urology and Men's Health, discusses the impact of a second peak in COVID‐19 infections on the upcoming Christmas celebrations, and the extended waiting lists for treatments not related to COVID‐19.
CT screening for lung cancer
Authors: Ruparel Mamta , Janes Samuel M
Published: November 2020

Early detection of lung cancer significantly improves survival. Indeed, screening for lung cancer has similar mortality benefits to those of breast and bowel cancer screening. Prior to the COVID‐19 pandemic, national lung screening was being considered in the UK. Here the authors discuss how lung cancer screening could be optimised and argue that it could radically transform outcomes, signalling the need for implementation after the COVID‐19 pandemic abates.
Journal watch
Authors: Kirby Mike
Published: November 2020

Mike Kirby, Editor on Trends in Urology and Men's Health, picks some interesting recent papers and highlights the ‘take‐home’ message.
Max Ritvo’s Precision Poetry
Authors: Choksey Lara
Published: November 2020

This essay reads Max Ritvo’s poetry through a chronology of precision biomedicine: imaging, diagnosis, and treatment. Ritvo’s construction of a patient-consumer avatar in his poetry reflects his position at a biomedical frontier, while poetic form becomes a way of retrieving bodies from a logic of substitution and surrogacy. A body lying under the weight of relentless, and relentlessly variable, imaging is catapulted through memory to a place by the sea in “The Curve.” In “Poem to My Litter,” the speaker addresses the laboratory mice injected with his tumors, drawing himself closer to them through their shared imprisonment in bodies on their way out of life, and suspending a bioeconomy embedded in a moral economy of sacrifice and faith. If precision medicine depends on making the analogical and metaphorical into common consensus—images that stand in for bodies, codes that stand in for disease—then Ritvo upends its neat architecture. He sticks instead with the messiness of bodies failing to meet an elusive salvation.
Quantum BTZ black hole
Authors: Emparan Roberto , Frassino Antonia Micol , Way Benson
Published: November 2020

Abstract

We study a holographic construction of quantum rotating BTZ black holes that incorporates the exact backreaction from strongly coupled quantum conformal fields. It is based on an exact four-dimensional solution for a black hole localized on a brane in AdS4, first discussed some years ago but never fully investigated in this manner. Besides quantum CFT effects and their backreaction, we also investigate the role of higher-curvature corrections in the effective three-dimensional theory. We obtain the quantum-corrected geometry and the renormalized stress tensor. We show that the quantum black hole entropy, which includes the entanglement of the fields outside the horizon, satisfies the first law of thermodynamics exactly, even in the presence of backreaction and with higher-curvature corrections, while the Bekenstein-Hawking-Wald entropy does not. This result, which involves a rather non-trivial bulk calculation, shows the consistency of the holographic interpretation of braneworlds. We compare our renormalized stress tensor to results derived for free conformal fields, and for a previous holographic construction without backreaction effects, which is shown to be a limit of the solutions in this article.
A scattering amplitude in Conformal Field Theory
Authors: Gillioz Marc , Meineri Marco , Penedones João
Published: November 2020

Abstract

We define form factors and scattering amplitudes in Conformal Field Theory as the coefficient of the singularity of the Fourier transform of time-ordered correlation functions, as p2 → 0. In particular, we study a form factor F(s, t, u) obtained from a four-point function of identical scalar primary operators. We show that F is crossing symmetric, analytic and it has a partial wave expansion. We illustrate our findings in the 3d Ising model, perturbative fixed points and holographic CFTs.
Lifting at higher levels in the D1D5 CFT
Authors: Guo Bin , Mathur Samir D.
Published: November 2020

Abstract

The D1D5P system has a large set of BPS states at its orbifold point. Perturbing away from this ‘free’ point leads to some states joining up into long supermultiplets and lifting, while other states remain BPS. We consider the simplest orbifold which exhibits this lift: that with N = 2 copies of the free c = 6 CFT. We write down the number of lifted and unlifted states implied by the index at all levels upto 6. We work to second order in the perturbation strength λ. For levels upto 4, we find the wavefunctions of the lifted states, their supermultiplet structure and the value of the lift. All states that are allowed to lift by the index are in fact lifted at order O(λ2). We observe that the unlifted states in the untwisted sector have an antisymmetry between the copies in the right moving Ramond ground state sector, and extend this observation to find classes of states for arbitrary N that will remain unlifted to O(λ2).
Six-point conformal blocks in the snowflake channel
Authors: Fortin Jean-François , Ma Wen-Jie , Skiba Witold
Published: November 2020

Abstract

We compute d-dimensional scalar six-point conformal blocks in the two possible topologies allowed by the operator product expansion. Our computation is a simple application of the embedding space operator product expansion formalism developed recently. Scalar six-point conformal blocks in the comb channel have been determined not long ago, and we present here the first explicit computation of the scalar six-point conformal blocks in the remaining inequivalent topology. For obvious reason, we dub the other topology the snowflake channel. The scalar conformal blocks, with scalar external and exchange operators, are presented as a power series expansion in the conformal cross-ratios, where the coefficients of the power series are given as a double sum of the hypergeometric type. In the comb channel, the double sum is expressible as a product of two 3F2-hypergeometric functions. In the snowflake channel, the double sum is expressible as a Kampé de Fériet function where both sums are intertwined and cannot be factorized. We check our results by verifying their consistency under symmetries and by taking several limits reducing to known results, mostly to scalar five-point conformal blocks in arbitrary spacetime dimensions.
Reflected entropy for free scalars
Authors: Bueno Pablo , Casini Horacio
Published: November 2020

Abstract

We continue our study of reflected entropy, R(A, B), for Gaussian systems. In this paper we provide general formulas valid for free scalar fields in arbitrary dimensions. Similarly to the fermionic case, the resulting expressions are fully determined in terms of correlators of the fields, making them amenable to lattice calculations. We apply this to the case of a (1 + 1)-dimensional chiral scalar, whose reflected entropy we compute for two intervals as a function of the cross-ratio, comparing it with previous holographic and free-fermion results. For both types of free theories we find that reflected entropy satisfies the conjectural monotonicity property R(A, BC) ≥ R(A, B). Then, we move to (2 + 1) dimensions and evaluate it for square regions for free scalars, fermions and holography, determining the very-far and very-close regimes and comparing them with their mutual information counterparts. In all cases considered, both for (1 + 1)- and (2 + 1)-dimensional theories, we verify that the general inequality relating both quantities, R(A, B) ≥ I (A, B), is satisfied. Our results suggest that for general regions characterized by length-scales LA ∼ LB ∼ L and separated a distance ℓ, the reflected entropy in the large-separation regime (x ≡ L/ℓ ≪ 1) behaves as R(x) ∼ −I(x) log x for general CFTs in arbitrary dimensions.
A comparative analysis of different biofluids towards ovarian cancer diagnosis using Raman microspectroscopy
Authors: Giamougiannis Panagiotis , Morais Camilo L. M. , Grabowska Rita , Ashton Katherine M. , Wood Nicholas J. , Martin-Hirsch Pierre L. , Martin Francis L.
Published: November 2020

Biofluids, such as blood plasma or serum, are currently being evaluated for cancer detection using vibrational spectroscopy. These fluids contain information of key biomolecules, such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids, that comprise spectrochemical patterns to differentiate samples. Raman is a water-free and practically non-destructive vibrational spectroscopy technique, capable of recording spectrochemical fingerprints of biofluids with minimum or no sample preparation. Herein, we compare the performance of these two common biofluids (blood plasma and serum) together with ascitic fluid, towards ovarian cancer detection using Raman microspectroscopy. Samples from thirty-eight patients were analysed (n = 18 ovarian cancer patients, n = 20 benign controls) through different spectral pre-processing and discriminant analysis techniques. Ascitic fluid provided the best class separation in both unsupervised and supervised discrimination approaches, where classification accuracies, sensitivities and specificities above 80% were obtained, in comparison to 60–73% with plasma or serum. Ascitic fluid appears to be rich in collagen information responsible for distinguishing ovarian cancer samples, where collagen-signalling bands at 1004 cm−1 (phenylalanine), 1334 cm−1 (CH3CH2 wagging vibration), 1448 cm−1 (CH2 deformation) and 1657 cm−1 (Amide I) exhibited high statistical significance for class differentiation (P < 0.001). The efficacy of vibrational spectroscopy, in particular Raman spectroscopy, combined with ascitic fluid analysis, suggests a potential diagnostic method for ovarian cancer.

Graphical abstract
Influence of Environmental Stressors on the Microbiota of Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha)
Authors: Mathai Prince P. , Bertram Jonathan H. , Padhi Soumesh K. , Singh Vikash , Tolo Isaiah E. , Primus Alexander , Mor Sunil K. , Phelps Nicholas B. D. , Sadowsky Michael J.
Published: November 2020

Host-associated microbiota play a critical role in host fitness by providing nutrition, enhancing digestion capabilities, and by providing protection from pathogens. Here, we investigated the effects of two environmental stressors, temperature, and salinity, on the microbiota associated with zebra mussels (ZMs), a highly invasive bivalve in North America. To examine this in detail, lake-collected ZMs were acclimated to laboratory conditions, and subjected to temperature and salinity stress conditions. The impact of these stressors on the diversity, composition, and dynamics of ZM-associated microbiota were assessed by using amplicon- and shotgun-based sequencing, and qPCR-based approaches. Elevated temperature was found to be the primary driver of ZM mortality, although salinity alone also increased its likelihood. Stressor-induced ZM mortality, which ranged between 53 and 100%, was concomitant with significant increases in the relative abundance of several genera of putative opportunistic pathogens including Aeromonas. These genera were only present in low relative abundance in ZMs obtained from the control tank with 0% mortality. Shotgun sequencing and qPCR analyses indicated that the relative and absolute abundances of pathogenic Aeromonas species (particularly A. veronii) were significantly greater in temperature-induced dead ZMs. Taken together, our results show that environmental stress, especially elevated temperature (> 25 °C), is associated with the rapid mortality of ZMs as well as the proliferation of putative opportunistic bacterial pathogens.