bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Single and Repeated Intravitreal Applications of Atropine on Choroidal Thickness in Alert Chickens
Authors: Mathis Ute , Feldkaemper Marita Pauline , Schaeffel Frank
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Atropine, a muscarinic antagonist, is known since the 19th century to inhibit myopia development in children. One of its effects is that it stimulates choroidal thickening. Thicker choroids, in turn, have been linked to myopia inhibition. We used the atropine-stimulated choroidal response in the chicken to learn more about the time courses and amplitudes of the effects of atropine, as well as whether repeated applications lead to accumulation or desensitization. Methods: Intravitreal injections containing 250 µg atropine sulfate were performed in 1 eye around 10:00 in the morning, the fellow eye received vehicle. Chickens with bilateral vehicle injections served as controls. Choroidal thickness was measured over the day for every 2–3 h in alert animals, using spectral domain optical coherence tomography, with 3–5 independent measurements in each eye. Three experiments were done – (1) single injection and time course measured over 1 day, (2) single injection and time course measured over 4 days, and (3) daily injections and time course measured over 4 days for measuring the effects of atropine on vitreal, retinal, and choroidal dopamine, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid levels by using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Results: Atropine induced an increase in choroidal thickness by about 60 percent, with a peak amplitude after about 2 h. The effect persisted only for a few hours and had nearly disappeared by evening. Initially, similar amounts of choroidal thickening were observed in vehicle-injected fellow eyes but recovery to baseline was faster. When atropine was injected daily for 4 days, choroids thickened every day with similar amplitudes and time courses, with no signs of either accumulation or desensitization effects. Interestingly, while dopamine release from the retina was stimulated by atropine and followed approximately, the time course of choroidal thickening, its tissue concentration dropped in the choroid. Conclusions: Even at relatively high intravitreal doses, effects of atropine on choroidal thickness remained transient, similar to its effects on retinal dopamine. With repeated application every day, the diurnal patterns of choroidal thickening could be reproduced for 4 days with similar amplitudes and time courses. The transient nature of the effects of atropine on the choroid may be relevant for application protocols of atropine against myopia.
The Crosstalk between Melatonin and Sex Steroid Hormones
Authors: Cipolla-Neto José , Amaral Fernanda Gaspar , Soares, Jr José Maria , Gallo Camila Congentino , Furtado André , Cavaco José Eduardo , Gonçalves Isabel , Santos Cecília Reis Alves , Quintela Telma
Published: March 2021

Melatonin, an indolamine mainly released from the pineal gland, is associated with many biological functions, namely, the modulation of circadian and seasonal rhythms, sleep inducer, regulator of energy metabolism, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic. Although several pieces of evidence also recognize the influence of melatonin in the reproductive physiology, the crosstalk between melatonin and sex hormones is not clear. Here, we review the effects of sex differences in the circulating levels of melatonin and update the current knowledge on the link between sex hormones and melatonin. Furthermore, we explore the effects of melatonin on gonadal steroidogenesis and hormonal control in females. The literature review shows that despite the strong evidence that sex differences impact on the circadian profiles of melatonin, reports are still considerably ambiguous, and these differences may arise from several factors, like the use of contraceptive pills, hormonal status, and sleep deprivation. Furthermore, there has been an inconclusive debate about the characteristics of the reciprocal relationship between melatonin and reproductive hormones. In this regard, there is evidence for the role of melatonin in gonadal steroidogenesis brought about by research that shows that melatonin affects multiple transduction pathways that modulate Sertoli cell physiology and consequently spermatogenesis, and also estrogen and progesterone production. From the outcome of our research, it is possible to conclude that understanding the correlation between melatonin and reproductive hormones is crucial for the correction of several complications occurring during pregnancy, like preeclampsia, and for the control of climacteric symptoms.
Parasitic infection in captive wild mammals and birds in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Authors: Hossain M. Najmul , Dey Anita Rani , Begum Nurjahan , Farjan Thahsin
Published: March 2021

We investigated the infection rate of gastrointestinal (GI) parasite eggs and premature stages from different wild animals and birds in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, Dulahazra, Cox’s Bazar.  A total of 56 fecal samples were collected from 24 species during July to November 2012 using modified Stoll’s ova dilution technique.  Coprology analysis revealed that the overall rate of parasitic infection was 78.6%, of which 51.8% were helminths and 35.7% protozoa.  The identified parasites were Paramphistomum spp. (7.1%), Fasciola spp. (5.4%), strongyles (26.8%), Ascaris spp. (3.6%), Strongyloides spp. (7.1%), Dictyocaulus spp. (5.4%), Trichuris spp. (3.6%), Capillaria spp. (5.4%), Heterakis spp. (3.6%), and Balantidium coli (35.7%).  Mixed infection (21.4%) was observed in nine animals, including co-infection with Balantidium coli and strongyles in Tiger Panthera tigris, Sambar Deer Rusa unicolor and Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina, Strongyloides spp., Trichuris spp. and larvae of Dictyocaulus spp. in Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus, Balantidium coli and Capillaria spp. in Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa, Fasciola spp. and Balantidium coli in Spotted Deer Axis axis, Ascaris spp. and strongyles in African Elephant Loxodonta africana, Strongyloides spp. and Heterakis spp. in Peafowl Pavo cristatus and Heterakis spp. and strongyles co-infection in Great Pied Hornbill Buceros bicornis.  It is concluded that GI parasites were prevalent in this safari park.  Further epidemiological investigation is necessary for controlling parasitic infection.
Some Formal Implications of Deletion Saltation
Authors: Smith Jennifer L.
Published: March 2021

Abstract: Two classes of saltation alternations (phonological derived-environment effects) are formally distinct under Harmonic Grammar (HG), but formally equivalent under Optimality Theory (OT, with or without local constraint conjunction). The familiar feature-scale saltation pattern cannot be modeled in HG without additional formal devices (White 2013), but deletion saltation arises as a simple gang effect under classic Correspondence Theory faithfulness constraints. If future work finds corresponding empirical differences between the two saltation types (e.g., in learnability), this would support weighted-constraint models such as HG over ranked-constraint models such as OT, and in addition would be evidence against MAX and DEP constraints on privative features and against the *MAP approach to faithfulness.
A novel dynamic network imaging analysis method reveals aging-related fragmentation of cortical networks in mouse
Authors: Llano Daniel A. , Ma Chihua , Di Fabrizio Umberto , Taheri Aynaz , Stebbings Kevin A. , Yudintsev Georgiy , Xiao Gang , Kenyon Robert V. , Berger-Wolf Tanya Y.
Published: March 2021

Network analysis of large-scale neuroimaging data is a particularly challenging computational problem. Here, we adapt a novel analytical tool, the community dynamic inference method (CommDy), for brain imaging data from young and aged mice. CommDy, which was inspired by social network theory, has been successfully used in other domains in biology; this report represents its first use in neuroscience. We used CommDy to investigate aging-related changes in network metrics in the auditory and motor cortices by using flavoprotein autofluorescence imaging in brain slices and in vivo. We observed that auditory cortical networks in slices taken from aged brains were highly fragmented compared to networks observed in young animals. CommDy network metrics were then used to build a random-forests classifier based on NMDA receptor blockade data, which successfully reproduced the aging findings, suggesting that the excitatory cortical connections may be altered during aging. A similar aging-related decline in network connectivity was also observed in spontaneous activity in the awake motor cortex, suggesting that the findings in the auditory cortex reflect general mechanisms during aging. These data suggest that CommDy provides a new dynamic network analytical tool to study the brain and that aging is associated with fragmentation of intracortical networks.
A morphospace of functional configuration to assess configural
breadth based on brain functional networks
Authors: Duong-Tran Duy , Abbas Kausar , Amico Enrico , Corominas-Murtra Bernat , Dzemidzic Mario , Kareken David , Ventresca Mario , Goñi Joaquín
Published: March 2021

The quantification of human brain functional (re)configurations across varying cognitive demands remains an unresolved topic. We propose that such functional configurations may be categorized into three different types: (a) network configural breadth, (b) task-to task transitional reconfiguration, and (c) within-task reconfiguration. Such functional reconfigurations are rather subtle at the whole-brain level. Hence, we propose a mesoscopic framework focused on functional networks (FNs) or communities to quantify functional (re)configurations. To do so, we introduce a 2D network morphospace that relies on two novel mesoscopic metrics, trapping efficiency (TE) and exit entropy (EE), which capture topology and integration of information within and between a reference set of FNs. We use this framework to quantify the network configural breadth across different tasks. We show that the metrics defining this morphospace can differentiate FNs, cognitive tasks, and subjects. We also show that network configural breadth significantly predicts behavioral measures, such as episodic memory, verbal episodic memory, fluid intelligence, and general intelligence. In essence, we put forth a framework to explore the cognitive space in a comprehensive manner, for each individual separately, and at different levels of granularity. This tool that can also quantify the FN reconfigurations that result from the brain switching between mental states.
“Unable to Dismiss Them”: Re-assessing the Jewish “Court Bankers” of Abbasid Baghdad, 908–932
Authors: Grayson Jennifer
Published: March 2021

Economic historians describe the emergence of Jewish court bankers presiding over a central state bank in Abbasid Baghdad as significant for the global history of finance. This paper, however, re-evaluates these figures in light of new insights about court cultures and institutions in the medieval Islamicate world. It argues that they should be understood primarily as middlemen in tax collection. They performed favors for individual viziers, but likely never held official titles or appointments at al-Muqtadir’s court. Rather, it was precisely their outsider status relative to elite Abbasid social networks that accounts for the longevity of their careers.
Pirates and Pilgrims: The Plunder of the Ganj-i Sawai, the Hajj, and a Mughal Captain’s Perspective
Authors: Kynn Tyler Joseph
Published: March 2021

The pirate attack by Henry Every in 1695 on a Mughal ship carrying travelers returning from pilgrimage to Mecca has received some attention by historians trying to fit this incident into a larger history of European piracy using mainly the English sources related to the incident. Drawing from this literature the aim of the present paper is to combine it with the Mughal Persian material available to demonstrate what this incident reveals about the early modern hajj – which is to say, pilgrimage to Mecca – and the makeup of the Mughal-sponsored ship carrying pilgrims and goods between Mecca and Surat. A previously unstudied Mughal letter related to the incident, by the captain of the Mughal ship in question, reveals the ways in which the Mughal Empire understood this encounter with European piracy and provides evidence for why the Mughal Empire was so quick to place the blame for this attack upon the English and the East India Company.
Calculators in Divinity: Henry Savile and Thomas Bradwardine
Authors: Mandelbrote Scott
Published: March 2021

This essay discusses the immediate context and form of the publication of Henry Savile’s edition of Thomas Bradwardine’s De causa Dei (1618). It sets out the political and theological significance of the work in relation to publications of the King’s Printers, the Synod of Dort, and the activities of Archbishop Abbot. It moves on to consider how the edition was made, resituating it in Oxford intellectual life of the early 1610s and in the broader world of theological controversy, and identifying some of those who conceived and assisted with the work. It considers which manuscripts were used in making the edition.
Historical Criticism, Confessional Controversy, and Self-Censorship: Henry Savile and the Lives of John Chrysostom
Authors: Quantin Jean-Louis
Published: March 2021

Henry Savile wrote a critical dissertation on Chrysostom’s biographers for inclusion in the eighth volume of his edition of Chrysostom’s works in Greek. He was indeed very interested in the Lives of his author, primarily in the Dialogus of Palladius of Helenopolis, then only known in Latin translation, whose Greek original he took considerable pains to unearth, to no avail, in libraries throughout Europe. His amanuenses instead brought him an array of Byzantine hagiographical texts, of which he was dismissive, publishing them only in part. Savile’s dissertation propounds his criteria of historical criticism (opposing ‘ancient’, authoritative writers, such as Palladius, and ‘modern’ ones, who invented miraculous stories) and attempts to reconstruct an exact chronology of Chrysostom’s life. It also discusses events immediately following the saint’s death, and argues that the letter of excommunication allegedly sent by Pope Innocent I to Chrysostom’s persecutors, the Emperor Arcadius and the Empress Eudoxia, cannot be genuine. As this episode was much used by champions of papal authority, Savile realized that he would be drawn into contemporary controversies. He preferred therefore to suppress his dissertation altogether: an act of self-censorship which raises fundamental questions about the nature of his undertaking.
A new madicolous species of Nilotanypus Kieffer (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Amazon region, northwestern Brazil
Authors: SHIMABUKURO ERIKA MAYUMI , DANTAS GALILEU P. S. , LAMAS CARLOS JOSÉ EINICKER
Published: March 2021

A new species of Nilotanypus Kieffer is described and illustrated based on male, pupa and larva. Nilotanypus yanomami sp. n. was collected at madicolous system in a mountainous region of northern Amazonia. Additionally, the identification key for males is updated and a distribution map for the Neotropical species is provided.
A new species of the genus Daplasa Moore from China based on morphological and molecular evidence (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Lymantriinae)
Authors: AN XUAN , DA WA , WANG MIN , WANG HOUSHUAI
Published: March 2021

A new species, Daplasa medoga sp. nov., is described from Tibet, China. The new species can be distinguished morphologically from all other known Daplasa species by its male genitalia with a sagittate uncus and distally broadly crotched valvae. The validity of new species is well supported by the molecular phylogenetic analyses of one mitochondrial gene (COI) and two nuclear genes (EF-1α & RPS5), with a total length of 2,324 bp.
Feedback processes modulating the sensitivity of Atlantic thermohaline circulation to freshwater forcing timescales
Authors: Kim Hyo-Jeong , An Soon-Il , Kim Soong-Ki , Park Jae-Heung
Published: March 2021

Paleo proxy records indicate that abrupt changes in thermohaline circulation (THC) were induced by rapid meltwater discharge from retreating ice sheets. Such abrupt changes in the THC have been understood as a hysteresis behavior of nonlinear system. Previous studies, however, primarily focused on a near-static hysteresis under fixed or slowly varying freshwater forcing (FWF), reflecting the equilibrated response of the THC. This study aims to improve the current understanding of transient THC responses under rapidly varying forcing and its dependency on forcing timescales. The results simulated by an Earth system model suggest that the bifurcation is delayed as the forcing timescale is shorter, causing the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation collapse (recovery) to occur at higher (lower) FWF values. The delayed shutdown/recovery occurs because bifurcation is determined not by the FWF value at the time but by the total amount of freshwater remaining over the THC convection region. The remaining freshwater amount is primarily determined by the forcing accumulation (i.e., time-integrated FWF), which is modulated by the freshwater/salt advection by ocean circulations and freshwater flux by the atmospheric hydrological cycle. In general, the latter is overwhelmed by the former. When the forced freshwater amount is the same, the modulation effect is stronger under slowly varying forcing because more time is provided for the feedback processes.
Evolving Exhibits: Struggles Over Public Memory in Developing “The Willowbrook Mile”
Authors: Lynch John A.
Published: March 2021

In 2016, the College of Staten Island held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Willowbrook Mile, a walking path across the campuses of the college and the Office of Persons with Developmental Disabilities’ Institute for Basic Research that would document the history of the notorious Willowbrook School. The Willowbrook School was a state institution for the developmentally disabled that was closed in part because of an expose about the School’s horrific conditions. It took more than a decade for the groundbreaking to occur, and 4 years later, the Mile remains unbuilt. This article traces the development process by examining planning documents and recollections of key participants at the groundbreaking and makes two findings about the development and evolution of memory exhibits. First, the Mile’s slow process reflects that public memory is a contest of identity and difference. Memorializing Willowbrook pits vernacular memory of activists and laypeople committed to social justice for the developmentally disabled against an official public memory that deflects attention away from the state’s role in maintaining the Willowbrook School. Second, the competition between official and vernacular memory led to a both-and compromise where official and vernacular memory appear equally. This compromise appears to be untenable for many involved, leading to continued development delays after the Mile’s groundbreaking. This analysis not only traces the conflict between official and vernacular memory of Willowbrook, but how conflict creates new proposals for memory even as their development remains impeded.
The Challenges of Achieving Equity Within Public School Gifted and Talented Programs
Authors: Peters Scott J.
Published: March 2021

K–12 gifted and talented programs have struggled with racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, native language, and disability inequity since their inception. This inequity has been well documented in public schools since at least the 1970s and has been stubbornly persistent despite receiving substantial attention at conferences, in scholarly journals, and in K–12 schools. The purpose of this article is to outline why such inequity exists and why common efforts to combat it have been unsuccessful. In the end, poorly designed identification systems combined with larger issues of societal inequality and systemic, institutionalized racism are the most likely culprits. I end the article with a hierarchy of actions that could be taken—from low-hanging fruit to major societal changes—in order to combat inequity in gifted education and move the field forward.
Extracorporeal life support for cardiogenic shock during pregnancy and postpartum: a single center experience
Authors: Desai Mehul , Osborn Erik , King Christopher , Shlobin Oksana A , Psotka Mitchell , Ryan Liam , Javid Akhtar Saba , Singh Ramesh
Published: March 2021

Background:

The use of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) for cardiogenic shock in pregnant and postpartum patients remains limited by concerns of bleeding, hemolysis, and fetal risks. This case series examines the underlying characteristics and management strategies for this high-risk population.

Methods:

All pregnant and post-partum patients who underwent VA ECMO in the cardiovascular intensive care unit between January 1, 2016 and November 1, 2019, were included in this retrospective study. Management of maternal and fetal O2 delivery, left ventricular (LV) unloading, anticoagulation, and ECMO circuit characteristics were evaluated.

Results:

Five patients required veno-arterial ECMO for restoration of systemic perfusion. Three patients developed peripartum cardiomyopathy, one septic cardiomyopathy, and one acute right ventricular (RV) failure. The median age was 30.6 years, with median gestational age in pregnant patients of 31 weeks. Maternal and fetal survival to discharge was 80%. Bleeding was the primary complication, with two patients requiring blood transfusions; one requiring interventional radiology (IR) embolization and the other requiring surgical intervention to control bleeding. One patient was successfully delivered on VA ECMO. No fetal complications were directly attributed to VA ECMO.

Conclusions:

VA ECMO can be employed successfully in obstetric patients with cardiogenic shock with appropriate patient selection. Further research is needed to determine if VA ECMO provides a survival advantage over traditional management strategies in this vulnerable population.
Explaining Screen-Time Behavior Among Preschoolers in Northern India Using Multi Theory Model: A Parental Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Sharma Manoj , Batra Kavita , Singh Tejinder Pal , Dua Rohini , Ickes Melinda , Batra Ravi , Nahar Vinayak K.
Published: March 2021

Background

Screen-time (ST) is the time spent on digital media. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the daily ST of less than an hour for preschoolers. However, increased ST among preschoolers is becoming a public health concern.

Objective

This study assessed the multi-theory model (MTM)'s applicability in explaining the ST behavior change among preschoolers through parents.

Methods

A quota sample of 72 parents was drawn from Northern India. Data were analyzed using multiple regression.

Results

Behavioral confidence (p < 0.001) and changes in the physical environment (p < 0.001) significantly predicted the initiation of reducing ST. The sustenance of limiting ST was significantly predicted by the emotional transformation (p < 0.001), practice for change (p < 0.001), and changes in the social environment (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

The study highlights the usability of the MTM model in designing and testing interventions for parents to limit ST among their children.
Tandem Breastfeeding and Human Milk Macronutrients: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Rosenberg Gilad , Mangel Laurence , Mandel Dror , Marom Ronella , Lubetzky Ronit
Published: March 2021

Background

Tandem breastfeeding is defined as two or more offspring of different ages who are breastfed by their mother at the same time. Breastfeeding during pregnancy and tandem breastfeeding have not been widely investigated.

Research Aim

To determine the influence of tandem breastfeeding on the macronutrient content of human milk.

Methods

This longitudinal study used a prospective and a retrospective group. Human milk samples from tandem-breastfeeding participants ( n = 18) were compared to samples from non-tandem-breastfeeding participants ( n = 31). Samples were collected during the last month of pregnancy (pregnancy milk), 72 hr after birth (colostrum) and 14–60 days post-delivery (mature milk). Macronutrients were measured by mid-infrared spectroscopy.

Results

Fat content in pregnancy milk was lower than in mature milk ( p < .01). Protein content was higher in pregnancy milk than in colostrum and mature milk ( p < .01 and p < .001, respectively). Inversely, carbohydrate content in pregnancy milk was lower than in colostrum and mature milk ( p = .02 and p < .01, respectively). Fat and energy contents in pregnancy milk of tandem-breastfeeding participants were lower than in mature milk of non-tandem-breastfeeding participants ( p < .001 and p < .01, respectively), and protein content was higher than in mature milk ( p < .001). Carbohydrate content in colostrum and mature milk of tandem-breastfeeding participants was higher than that of non-tandem-breastfeeding participants ( p < .001 for both).

Conclusion

Human milk produced during pregnancy had different macronutrient content than human milk produced after delivery. Colostrum and mature milk of tandem-breastfeeding participants were similar to human milk produced by non-tandem-breastfeeding participants, with the exception of carbohydrate content.
Tenure Expectations and Career Aspirations Among Female Assistant Professors in STEM
Authors: Gregor Margo A. , Weigold Ingrid K. , Martin-Wagar Caitlin A. , Campbell-Halfaker Devynn
Published: March 2021

This study used social cognitive career theory to predict the career aspirations and tenure expectations of untenured female science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) assistant professors. We hypothesized that contextual variables (perceived career barriers and institutional support for work–life balance) would directly predict career aspirations and tenure expectations. We also expected that these contextual variables would be indirectly related to career aspirations and tenure expectations through our self-efficacy variables (faculty task-specific self-efficacy and impostor beliefs). Data were collected from 214 untenured female faculty in STEM departments. Path analyses indicated that the hypothesized model was a good fit for the data. Institutional support for work–life balance produced direct and indirect pathways to career aspirations through faculty task-specific self-efficacy and an indirect pathway to tenure expectations through impostor beliefs, whereas perceived career barriers produced a direct pathway to career aspirations. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Band gap analysis of a three-mass locally resonant structure
Authors: Gulia Preeti , Gupta Arpan
Published: March 2021

A mass in a mass locally resonant system has been studied using a numerical and analytical method. This study is performed to compute the band gap and transmission coefficient of a mass–spring locally resonant system. A locally resonant structure is a periodic structure which exhibits negative effective properties in a certain frequency band and reveals band gaps below Bragg’s frequency. In this work, two substructures are attached with main mass so that the system will act as two masses in a mass system. It is found that the presented structure shows two band gaps below 500 Hz with negative effective properties. Addition of a third substructure with the main mass provides an additional band gap at low frequency. The position and width of band gaps can be tuned by changing the values of masses and stiffness.
Relative pollen productivity estimates of savanna taxa from southern Africa and their application to reconstruct shrub encroachment during the last century
Authors: Tabares Ximena , Ratzmann Gregor , Kruse Stefan , Theuerkauf Martin , Mapani Benjamin , Herzschuh Ulrike
Published: March 2021

To understand the resilience of African savannas to global change, quantitative information on the long-term dynamics of vegetation is required. Past dynamics can be reconstructed with the REVEALS model, which requires pollen productivity estimates (PPE) that are calibrated using surface pollen and vegetation data. Here we calculated PPE values for five savanna taxa using the extended R-value (ERV) model and two pollen dispersal options: the Gaussian plume model (GPM) and the Lagrangian stochastic model (LSM). The ERV calculations failed to produce a reliable PPE for Poaceae. We therefore used Combretaceae as the reference taxon – although values obtained with Poaceae as the reference taxon are presented in the supplement. Our results indicate that Combretaceae is the taxon with the highest pollen productivity and Grewia the taxon with the lowest productivity. Acacia and Dichrostachys are intermediate pollen producers. We find no clear indication of whether the GPM PPEs or the LSM PPEs are more realistic, but the differences between these values confirmed that the pollen fall speed has a greater effect in the modelling of GPM than in the LSM. We also applied REVEALS to the pollen record of Lake Otjikoto (northern Namibia) and obtained the first quantitative reconstruction of the last 130 years of vegetation history in the region. Cover estimates for Poaceae indicate the predominance of a semi-open landscape throughout the 20th century, while cover values below 50% since the 21st century correspond to a thick savanna. This change in grass cover is associated with the spread of Vachellia, Senegalia and Grewia reflecting an encroached state.
Effects of climate change on a subtropical montane peatland over the last two centuries: Evidence from diatom records
Authors: Chen Xu , McGowan Suzanne , Qin Bo , Huang Xianyu , Stevenson Mark A , Zhang Zhiqi , Zeng Linghan , Bai Xue
Published: March 2021

Climate variability can induce rapid changes in peatland ecosystems, affecting both carbon cycling and vegetation succession. Diatoms are an important group of ubiquitous and diverse algae in peatlands. Until now, the responses of diatom communities to climate variability have rarely been explored in peatlands, especially in subtropical regions. In this study, monitoring and paleolimnological datasets were combined to decipher environmental changes of a subtropical montane peatland (central China) over the last two centuries. Seasonal monitoring data revealed that diatom communities were closely correlated with precipitation, depth to the water table, conductivity, nitrate and temperature. Sedimentary records revealed that temporal changes in diatom assemblages and geochemical elements displayed similar trends in two peat cores after the 1950s. The first gradient in diatom composition represented a shift from Pinnularia species to taxa preferring less-acidic habitats, which was closely linked to climate warming and the enrichment of inorganic elements (e.g. sodium and calcium) since the early 20th century. Meanwhile, changes in diatom communities were further related to precipitation variability, atmospheric deposition and local hydrogeomophic setting. Taken together, the succession of diatom communities was closely linked to climate-regulated availability of nutrients and moisture in this subtropical peatland over the last two centuries. In order to achieve sustainable management of these scarce peatlands, further biological monitoring and paleoecological studies are needed to improve our knowledge of peatland ecosystem evolution in response to future climate change.
Identification of Differential Expression Cytokines in Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, and Low Platelet Syndrome by Proteome Microarray Analysis and Further Verification
Authors: Kang Suya , Zhou Liping , Wang Yun , Li Hui , Zhang Hong
Published: March 2021

To screen the differential expression cytokines (DECs) in hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome, establish its differential cytokines spectra, and provide the clues for its diagnosis and pathogenic mechanism researches. Sera from four HELLP syndrome patients and four healthy controls were detected by proteome microarray. Then the analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway, and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network were performed and possible hub proteins were selected out, further verified by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) in sera from 21 HELLP syndrome patients and 21 healthy controls. Thirty DECs were defined according to P-value and fold change between HELLP group and control group. GO enrichment analysis showed that DECs were mainly involved in the regulation of inflammatory response and have relationship to growth factor binding, transmembrane receptor protein kinase, and cytokine receptor activity. Seven possible hub proteins were defined by PPI analysis, including IGFBP-3/Follistatin-like 1/FLRG/Fetuin A and MMP-13/Thrombospondin-5/Aggrecan. ELISA showed higher serum levels of Fetuin A/IGFBP-3/FLGR/MMP-13/Thrombospondin-5 in HELLP group than those in controls, while the levels of Follistatin-like 1 and Aggrecan were lower in HELLP patients (all P < 0.05 or <0.01).The serological DECs spectra of HELLP syndrome was established and seven possible hub proteins that may be more closely related to the disease have been verified, providing new clues for its pathogenesis, diagnosis, and clinical treatment.
Postmenopausal Symptoms and Management by Women in Delhi–NCR
Authors: Roy Brototi , Yadav Meena , Sharma Shivani , Dharora Surbhi , Bansal Mahima , Yadav Nikita , Chopra Gouri , Gupta Yamini , Roy Madhurima
Published: March 2021

Menopause is defined as the complete cessation of the menstrual cycle in women for twelve consecutive months. Although menopause is an important aspect of the female reproductive health cycle, it is often ignored. Women may experience different menopausal and postmenopausal symptoms ranging from mild to severe. In the present study, a cross-sectional survey of 200 women in their postmenopausal years was conducted across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). A pretested questionnaire was given to a random population of postmenopausal women to record various postmenopausal symptoms and the coping strategies adopted by them. The mean age of menopause of the sample population was 47.48 years, and body mass index seemed to affect the age of onset of menopause. The majority of women experienced postmenopausal symptoms, with 95.28% experiencing more than one symptom, ranging from fatigue and sleep disturbances to severe symptoms such as anxiety attacks, palpitations and joint pains. Many women used different coping strategies, such as changes in lifestyle and social interaction with other women experiencing menopause. Very few women used hormone replacement therapy as a coping mechanism and most of them were ignorant about the same. Interestingly, both education and working status were observed to affect the adoption of coping strategies by women in Delhi–NCR. The results of the study emphasize the need of addressing the problems of the postmenopausal population and incorporating the same in the national healthcare programme.
Impacts of Political Stability on Shadow Economy: Evidence from Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Countries
Authors: Siddik Md. Nur Alam , Kabiraj Sajal , Hosen Md. Emran , Miah Md. Firoze
Published: March 2021

The issue of political stability and the shadow economy is the most vital concern for sustainable development. However, the relationship between them is yet to be explored. Particularly, in the context of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Countries (BIMSTEC) countries, there are no studies that have examined the influence of political stability on shadow economy. This study fills these gaps. Using panel data from 1998 to 2015, this study empirically investigated whether and how political stability affects shadow economy. Findings indicate that political stability has significant negative effects on the size of shadow economy. We also observed that regulation freedom, fiscal freedom, business freedom, trade freedom, government integrity, government spending and gross domestic product (GDP) growth have significant negative effects, while unemployment has significant positive effects on the shadow economy. Findings of this study imply that governments and policymakers should make efforts to ensure greater political stability in their countries, which will lessen the size of shadow economy that, in turn, will accelerate economic growth. The present study adds to empirical literature of the analogous issue by confirming (or else) the findings of past studies carried out across the world. The findings indicate that there exists a positive association between the extent of political stability and the shadow economy for BIMSTEC countries.
Do Lower Foreign Flows and Higher Domestic Flows Reduce Indian Equity Market Volatility?
Authors: Aggarwal Vaibhav , Doifode Adesh , Tiwary Mrityunjay Kumar
Published: March 2021

This study examines the relationship that both domestic and foreign institutional net equity flows have with the India stock markets. The motivation behind is the study to examine whether increased net equity investments from domestic institutional investors has reduced the influence of foreign equity flows on the Indian stock market volatility. Our results indicate that only during periods in which domestic equity inflows surpass foreign flows by a significant margin, as seen during 2015–2018, is the Indian stock market volatility not significantly influenced by foreign equity investments. However, during periods of re-emergence of strong foreign net inflows, the Indian market volatility is still being impacted significantly, as has been observed since 2019. Furthermore, we find that both large-scale net buying and net selling by domestic funds increased the stock market volatility as observed during 2015–2018 and COVID-impacted year 2020 respectively. The implications of this study are multi-fold. First, the regulators should discuss with industry bodies before enforcing major structural changes like reconstituting of mutual fund investment mandate in 2017 which forced domestic funds to quickly change portfolio allocation amongst large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap stocks resulting in higher stock market volatility. Second, adequate investor educational and awareness programmes need to be conducted regularly for retail investors to minimize herd behaviour of investing during market rise and heavy redemptions at times of fall. Third, the economic policies should be stable and forward-looking to ensure foreign investors remain attracted to the Indian stock markets at all times.
The Impact of Leverages and Operating Efficiency on Market Value Added: Empirical Evidence from India
Authors: Kumar Rahul , Bhatia Prince , Chattopadhyay Subir
Published: March 2021

This article examines the relationship between the market value added and degree financial leverage, degree of operating leverage, and asset turnover ratio of the listed firms in India. The period of study was from 2013 to 2019, and data were collected in annual frequency. Our study concludes that the degree of financial leverage and asset turnover ratio are significantly and negatively associated with the market value added of listed firms in India. We also reported an insignificant relationship between market value added and degree of operating leverage. Our results indicate that promoters holding and firm size are important factors driving the performance of the firms listed in India.
Industry 4.0 Adaption in Indian Banking Sector—A Review and Agenda for Future Research
Authors: Gupta Ritika
Published: March 2021

Digitalization and intelligization is the need of the hour in today’s world. The manufacturing industry is, in fact, moving towards the fourth-generation industry, which we termed as Industry 4.0 or the Fourth Industrial revolution, which is defined as a new level of organization and control over the entire value chain of the life cycle of products; it is geared towards increasingly individualized customer requirements. Industry 4.0 is all about talking in terms of big data, technology, cyber security, the Internet of Things (IoT) and so on. This study is done to understand the new emerging technology in data exchange and automation, popularly known as Industry 4.0, in terms of banking sector with context to the Indian banking sector.

The study focuses on studying banks in a digitalized word and what are the challenges that banks face. How banks cope up with digitalization, keeping customers at priority. This study centred on incorporating articles published in recent years to establish knowledge on the topic and to further identify areas for future research.
Shear actuation-based hybrid damping treatment of sandwich structures using a graphite particle-filled viscoelastic layer
Authors: Gupta Abhay , Panda Satyajit , Reddy Rajidi Shashidhar
Published: March 2021

In this work, the effectiveness of a shear actuation-based hybrid active-passive damping treatment is investigated by incorporating the inclusion of graphite particles within the viscoelastic damping layer. The study is performed through the flexural vibration analysis of a sandwich plate-strip where the core is made of a laminate of active layers and graphite particle-filled viscoelastic layers in two different stacking sequences. The active layers are comprised of shear mode piezoelectric actuator patches that are activated according to a shear-based velocity feedback control strategy. The analysis is performed by deriving a closed-loop finite element model of the sandwich plate-strip, and it reveals that the hybrid damping is significantly dependent on the stacking sequence of active and passive damping layers at the core. The inclusion of graphite particles not only provides augmented passive damping but also causes enhanced transfer of shear actuation force from the active layers to other layers. As a result, a significantly improved shear actuation-based hybrid active-passive damping is achieved due to the inclusion. The effectiveness of this hybrid damping in attenuation of resonant displacement-amplitude is also presented by configuring the volume fraction of graphite particles and shear actuator patches in an optimal manner.
Smoking-Specific Risk Factors in Early Adulthood That Mediate Risk of Daily Smoking by Age 29 for Children with ADHD
Authors: Rhodes Jessica D. , Kennedy Traci M. , Walther Christine A. P. , Gnagy Elizabeth M. , Pelham William E. , Molina Brooke S. G.
Published: March 2021

Objective:

To test whether smoking-specific risk factors in early adulthood mediate prediction to daily smoking from childhood ADHD.

Methods:

Participants were 237 with and 164 without childhood ADHD. A smoking risk profile score comprising smoking-specific factors measured between ages 18 to 25 (e.g., craving severity) and age of initiation was tested as mediator of the association between childhood ADHD and age 29 daily smoking.

Results:

Childhood ADHD predicted age 29 smoking (β = −.15, p = .019), 35% of ADHD versus 17% of nonADHD, and the profile score (β = −.07, p = .004), which in turn mediated prediction to age 29 daily smoking (β = −.03; p = .007). When tested individually, three profile variables (# cigarettes/day, difficulty concentrating during abstinence, and nicotine dependence) were significant mediators ( ps = 0.005–0.038), above and beyond early adult smoking, ADHD persistence, and delinquency.

Conclusions:

These behavioral smoking characteristics help explain later daily cigarette smoking for adults with ADHD histories and may need to be targeted in intervention.
It’s More Complicated Than It Seems: Virtual Qualitative Research in the COVID-19 Era
Authors: Roberts J. Kessa , Pavlakis Alexandra E. , Richards Meredith P.
Published: March 2021

COVID-19 has necessitated innovation in many parts of our lives and qualitative research is no exception, as in-person qualitative data collection has been complicated by the constraints of social distancing and the prioritization of participants’ and researchers’ safety. Consequently, virtual methods have quickly gained traction. However, there is little research that comprehensively explores the range of practical, rigorous, and ethical considerations that arise when designing and engaging in virtual qualitative research. Addressing this gap, we examine the process of designing and conducting a virtual qualitative study, using specific examples from our case study of student homelessness in Houston, Texas that drew from semi-structured interviews and the analysis of over 50 documents. Garnering insights from Salmons’ Qualitative e-Research Framework (2016), and benefiting from 22 technical memos that documented our process, we profile the challenges we faced—and choices we made in response—as we designed and conducted our study. Our findings suggest that in practice, engaging in virtual qualitative research, particularly in the era of COVID-19, is a purposive exercise that requires thoughtful, careful analysis around a number of methodological challenges as well as ethical and equity-oriented questions. Our exploratory work has timely implications for qualitative scholars in the current COVID-19 context, but also showcases the potential to conduct high-quality, rigorous, ethical qualitative research in a virtual format, offering a glimmer of hope for more equitable qualitative research in contexts of crisis and beyond.
Cone-beam computed tomography for primary investigation of wrist trauma provides a new map of fractures of carpal bones
Authors: Krayem Mamoun , Weber Lensing Claudia , Fornander Lotta
Published: March 2021

In 2016, our primary modality for radiological examination of wrist trauma, was changed from radiography to cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). This is a retrospective survey of carpal bone fractures detected by CBCT during 6 months in 2016/2017, compared with those found on conventional radiographs during 6 months in 2013/2014. The incidence of carpal fractures was three times higher during the CBCT period (92/100,000 per year) compared with the radiography period (29/100,000 per year) and the spectrum of anatomical locations was different between the two periods, with fractures of the lunate ( n = 6), trapezium ( n = 9), trapezoid ( n = 4) and capitate ( n = 1) detected by CBCT, in contrast to no fractures of these bones diagnosed during the 6 months radiography period. We suggest a more liberal use of CBCT for examination of wrist trauma considering the benefits of being able to give patients a correct primary diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

Level of evidence: III
Antibacterial Activities of Nepetalactones Against Public Health-Related Pathogens
Authors: Ghosh Anuradha , Zhu Enya V. , Wang Haichuan , Zurek Ludek , Zhu Junwei J.
Published: March 2021

The antimicrobial activities of ( Z,E)- and ( E,Z)-nepetalactones, 2 major compositional compounds from the essential oil of catnip ( Nepeta cataria), were first discovered from fly larval development media studies with over 98% inhibition of bacterial growth. Further investigation demonstrated inhibition of the growth of various bacterial species of public health significance. Catnip oil showed antibacterial activity against 5 Gram-positive and 9 Gram-negative bacteria. The antimicrobial activity varied among the original essential oil from the plant and its major compositional compounds as a blended mixture or an individual compound. Growth inhibition was observed against 5 Neisseria species, with particularly strong inhibition against Neisseria sicca (with MICs ranging from 0.5 to 5 mg/mL) that provided comparable or increased levels of growth control produced by 2 antibiotics (Ceftiofur and Cephalothin). The development of plant-based antibacterial agents to prevent or delay the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria is discussed.