bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of cold air dehydration on icefish water dynamics and macromolecular oxidation measured by low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Zhu Yingying , Zhang Li , Lin Zhuyi , Zhang Zhonghui , Cao Yeting , Ru Hua , Yan Jun , Li Shuxian , Li Zhong
Published: December 2020

We have used low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF‐NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging to measure water dynamics and migration, color, and texture profile (TPA) of icefish dried with hot and cold air methods. Relaxation time of T21, T22, and T23, and the peak area of A22 and A23 decreased significantly during drying. The water signal intensity decreased from the surface to inner regions during drying. Color parameters of L* and b* values increased significantly, TPA parameters of hardness increased, cohesiveness decreased significantly, and moisture content decreased significantly during drying. We observed correlations between the moisture content, TPA, color, and NMR parameters. In addition, we found lower thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and carbonyl content of the dried icefish with cold air compared with hot air. The cold air drying method yielded better sensory quality, and LF‐NMR was a useful nondestructive method to determine the degree of drying and the quality of icefish.
A quasi‐experimental study of the effectiveness of the Reitman Centre CARERS group intervention on family caregivers of persons with dementia
Authors: Sadavoy Joel , Sajedinejad Sima , Chiu Mary
Published: December 2020

Objectives

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the Reitman Centre CARERS program on key outcomes in family caregivers (CGs) of people with dementia (PWD). The Reitman Centre CARERS program is an innovative, group psychotherapeutic skills‐training intervention based on integrated problem solving techniques (PST), simulation learning and group psychotherapy designed to address each CGs' unique situation.

Method

Family CGs of PWD (n = 264) that were referred to Reitman Center and the partner sites were evaluated before and after completion of the 8‐week CARERS program in comparison with a wait‐list control group (n = 83) who received regular care in a quasi‐experimental, non‐randomized, multiple group, multisite trial. General linear model was used to compare the results after adjusting for baseline measures and changes in the care recipients' daily activities (Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living).

Results

The results indicated the effectiveness and superiority of the CARERS program over usual care on measures of CG's perceived stress, depression, burden, competence, role overload, emotion and avoidance‐focused coping.

Conclusion

The CARERS program as a multi‐component intervention is an effective intervention that significantly improves functioning, coping skills and well‐being of dementia CGs.
Family caregivers' distress responses to daily behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: The moderating role of relationship quality
Authors: Chunga Richard E. , Kim Kyungmin , Liu Yin , Zarit Steven H.
Published: December 2020

Objectives

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are associated with distress among caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD), but less is known about how relationship quality may buffer this association. This study examines the association between daily BPSD and daily perceived distress among family caregivers and the moderating role of relationship quality.

Methods

Data were from 173 family caregivers of PWD from the Daily Stress and Health study. Relationship quality was assessed at the baseline interview; then on each of the 8 following consecutive days, caregivers reported frequency of daily BPSD (six domains) and their respective distress (calculated as daily distress sum and daily distress mean scores) through daily evening phone interviews at home. A 2‐level multilevel model approach was employed to differentiate within‐person (WP) and between‐person (BP) effects.

Results

Greater daily BPSD occurrence was associated with higher daily distress (sum and mean scores) at WP and BP levels. However, relationship quality moderated the association between daily BPSD occurrence and daily distress sum scores at both WP and BP levels. Caregivers who reported better relationship quality with the PWD had lower levels of daily distress sum scores in response to daily BPSD occurrence, compared to their counterparts with poorer relationship quality.

Conclusions

This study revealed that relationship quality attenuated the effect of daily BPSD occurrence on caregivers' distress. Future dementia caregiver education and support programs should consider building relationship quality into the personalized program design to improve caregiver mental health and well‐being.
Research on esophageal cancer: With personal perspectives from studies in China and Kenya
Authors: Yang Chung S. , Chen Xiaoxin Luke
Published: December 2020

The most common form of esophageal cancer (EC), esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), is prevalent in many unindustrialized societies, among people with lower socioeconomic status and those who frequently use tobacco and alcohol. In some areas, ESCC mortality ranked top among all cancer. In this review, we begin with discussions of the extensive research on EC in Linxian in northern China that started 60 years ago and the recent studies in Kenya from our personal perspectives. Based on the results obtained from these studies and information from the literature, we summarize our current understanding about the risk factors for ESCC including lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol, consumption of food and beverages at high temperature and other unhealthy habits), poor diet and nutritional insufficiencies and genetic susceptibility. Elimination or minimization of these environmental risk factors, as well as early detection and treatment of precancerous lesions, would be effective means for the prevention of ESCC. Current knowledge of molecular alterations in ESCC (gene mutations, hypermethylation and amplification or overexpression), as well as treatment of ESCC and the potential of targeted therapy, are also discussed. Finally, we propose effective approaches for the prevention of ESCC by adapting a healthy lifestyle, including a healthy diet that would also prevent other diseases. Community outreach, public education and international collaboration are important for achieving this public health goal.
Efficacy and safety of chronomodulated irinotecan, oxaliplatin, 5‐fluorouracil and leucovorin combination as first‐ or second‐line treatment against metastatic colorectal cancer: Results from the International EORTC 05011 Trial
Authors: Innominato Pasquale F. , Karaboué Abdoulaye , Focan Christian , Chollet Philippe , Giacchetti Sylvie , Bouchahda Mohamed , Ulusakarya Ayhan , Torsello Angela , Adam René , Lévi Francis A. , Garufi Carlo
Published: December 2020

The triplet combination of irinotecan, oxaliplatin and fluorouracil is an active frontline regimen in metastatic colorectal cancer, but scarce data exist on its use as salvage treatment. We aimed at assessing its safety and efficacy profiles with its circadian‐based administration (chronoIFLO5) as either first‐ or second‐line treatment, within the time‐finding EORTC 05011 trial. Five‐day chronoIFLO5 was administered every 3 weeks in patients with PS 0, 1 or 2. It consisted of chronomodulated irinotecan (180 mg/sqm), oxaliplatin (80 mg/sqm) and fluorouracil‐leucovorin (2800 and 1200 mg/sqm, respectively). For our study, toxicity and antitumour activity were evaluated separately in first‐ and second‐line settings. Primary endpoints included Grade 3‐4 toxicity rates, best objective response rate (ORR), progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). One‐hundred forty‐nine and 44 patients were treated in first‐line and second‐line settings, respectively, with a total of 1138 cycles with median relative dose intensities of about 90%. Demographics were comparable in the two groups. Thirty‐six (24.7%) and 10 (22.2%) patients experienced at least one episode of severe toxicity in first line and second line, respectively. Frontline chronoIFLO5 yielded an ORR of 62.3% [95% CI: 54.2‐70.4] and resulted in median PFS and OS of 8.7 months [7.5‐9.9] and 19.9 months [15.4‐24.5]. Corresponding figures in second line were 37.5% [22.5‐52.5], 6.7 months [4.8‐8.9] and 16.3 months [11.8‐20.8]. International and prospective evaluation revealed the favourable safety and efficacy profiles of chronoIFLO5, both as frontline and as salvage treatment against metastatic colorectal cancer. In particular, encouraging activity in second line was observed, with limited haematological toxicity.
A cross‐country study on informed herding
Authors: Chen Tao
Published: December 2020

The access to fundamental information prompts traders to buy or sell a security collectively until its market price arrives at the equilibrium value, which this paper terms informed herding. Using a large sample covering the tick‐by‐tick data, we conduct a cross‐country study to examine whether informed herding pervades in the international markets. The empirical finding lends strong support to the global presence of informed herding. Moreover, the effect of informed herding remains significant despite using various robustness checks. Eventually, we discover that informed herding is likely to be driven by two macro‐level institutional characteristics: corporate transparency and foreign accessibility.
In utero antiretroviral exposure and sociodemographic characteristics on neurodevelopment of HIV‐exposed uninfected children versus HIV‐unexposed uninfected healthy children in Malawi
Authors: Zhang Xiaohua , Wang Lirong , Han Jucai , Xie Li , Wu Ning , Nyirenda Rose , Shumba Khumbo , Simwanza Winson , Kulyk Oleksandr , Chilapondwa Verydear , Li Xu
Published: December 2020

Background

To evaluate mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development index (PDI) scores of HIV‐exposed uninfected (HEU) children by timing of in utero antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation (Option B+) and sociodemographic characteristics compared with HIV‐unexposed uninfected (HUU) children in Mzuzu, Malawi.

Methods

One hundred HEU children and 100 HUU children aged 2–30 months were recruited. The differences in MDI and PDI scores between HEU and HUU children were tested by Student's t test, analysis of variance, Mann–Whitney U test, and logistic regression analysis.

Results

The differences in MDI and PDI scores might be related to number of children in the family, delivery, place of residence, family income, complementary feeding, father's or mother's occupation, and degree of education. No significant difference in MDI and PDI scores between HEU and HUU children (P = 0.076 and P = 0.407) was found. Among HEU children, ART in the third trimester and beyond produced a lower PDI score compared with ART before pregnancy and in the first or second trimester (P = 0.027).

Conclusion

The MDI and PDI scores of HEU subgroups with different timing of ART (Option B+) initiation were comparable to those of the HUU group. Early in utero ART initiation was associated with better neurodevelopmental outcomes than ART initiation in the third trimester and beyond.
Automated detection and classification of skin diseases using diverse features and improved gray wolf‐based multiple‐layer perceptron neural network
Authors: Melbin K. , Jacob Vetha Raj Y.
Published: December 2020

One of the largest organs of the human body is the skin and its pigmentation differs among the population. During skin disease identification, the dermatologist requires a high level of expertise and accuracy. This study proposes different kinds of skin image feature extraction and classification methods. In this work, we have chosen six kinds of skin diseases such as melanoma, seborrheic keratosis, eczema, actinic keratoses, nevus, and lupus erythematosus. In the preprocessing stage, the color standardization is performed by gray world color constancy (GWCC) algorithm. The thick and thin hairs from the disease images are removed in the preprocessing stage. The circular kernel with morphological operation clearly segments the skin lesion region. Moreover, the combination of novel cumulative‐based level difference mean (NCLDM) and improved Asymmetry, Border Irregularity, Color Variation and Diameter (ABCD) features vector (ABCD‐fv) methods is more helpful to extract the shape, texture, and color feature of skin lesion. However, the more features never offer an accurate classification result, so we go for the ranking and selection of features. Finally, the improved gray wolf‐based multiple‐layer perceptron (IGWO‐MLP) technique is used to produce the relevant skin disease class. For the experimentation, there are six datasets such as DermNet, Xiangya, Medicine Net, PH2, Kaggle, and HAM‐10000, which are chosen for effective skin disease identification. The proposed method demonstrates better segmentation, feature extraction, and classification result in terms of accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, Jaccard similarity index, and Dice similarity index. As a result, the skin disease identification of the proposed IGWO‐MLP method yields 98% accuracy, 99% sensitivity, 98% specificity, 98% Jaccard Similarity Index, and 99% Dice similarity index when compared with state‐of‐the‐art methods. This work will certainly help dermatologists to make their work more efficient and help them to provide the correct treatment for the skin disease detected.
Cointegration and control: Assessing the impact of events using time series data
Authors: Harvey Andrew , Thiele Stephen
Published: December 2020

Control groups can provide counterfactual evidence for assessing the impact of an event or policy change on a target variable. We argue that fitting a multivariate time series model offers potential gains over a direct comparison between the target and a weighted average of controls. More importantly, it highlights the assumptions underlying methods such as difference in differences and synthetic control, suggesting ways to test these assumptions. Gains from simple and transparent time series models are analysed using examples from the literature, including the California smoking law of 1989 and German reunification. We argue that selecting controls using a time series strategy is preferable to existing data‐driven regression methods.
Separation of Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II) and Li(I) from synthetic sulfuric acid leaching solution of spent lithium ion batteries by solvent extraction
Authors: Nguyen Viet Nhan Hoa , Lee Man Seung
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

Cobalt, nickel and lithium are crucial in the manufacture of batteries. Therefore, the recovery of these metals from spent lithium ion batteries (LIBs) has attracted much attention because of their benefits in terms of economics and the environment.

RESULTS

In the present work, the recovery of metals such as cobalt, nickel, manganese and lithium from synthetic sulfuric acid leaching solutions of spent LIBs was performed by solvent extraction using synthetic ionic liquids (ILs) and a mixture of Cyanex 301 and Alamine 336. First, cobalt was selectively extracted over other metal ions by extraction with IL(ALi‐SCN). The role of SCN− during the extraction was also investigated, and the extraction reactions of cobalt by both ALi‐SCN and Aliquat 336 were verified. The cobalt in the loaded ALi‐SCN was stripped by ammonia solution. After adjusting the raffinate pH, extraction with the mixture of Cyanex 301 and Alamine 336 selectively extracted nickel over manganese and lithium. The extracted nickel was completely stripped by 75% aqua regia. Manganese was selectively extracted by IL(ALi‐CY) after adjusting the pH of the raffinate. The manganese in the loaded ALi‐CY was stripped by HCl solutions. Therefore, three‐step solvent extraction resulted in a raffinate containing only lithium.

CONCLUSIONS

A process was proposed to separate Co(II), Ni(II) and Mn(II) from the sulfuric acid solutions of spent LIBs. The mass balance of continuous experiments indicated that the purity of the stripping solution of Co(II) and Mn(II) was higher than 99.9%. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Preparation of ultrahigh‐water‐content nanofiber composite hydrogel for Cd2+ removal
Authors: Huang Xin , Hu Jue , Huang Jianmin , Zhou Guiyin , Tun Thein , Tang Jianxin , Liu Sihua
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

The rising volumes of industrial wastewater discharge are causing an ecological crisis, which has become a challenge for humans. Herein, a novel ultrahigh‐water‐content nanofiber composite (NC) hydrogel was prepared as an efficient adsorbent for cadmium ion (Cd2+). This hydrogel has a porous and loose 3D cross‐linked structure and the polymer chains are interspersed with titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanofibers, which provide a supporting framework for the NC hydrogel.

RESULTS

The adsorption of Cd2+ on the NC hydrogel could rapidly achieve the equilibrium and the maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of 76.92 mg g−1 at pH 7 and 293 K. The intraparticle diffusion was the rate‐controlling step in the adsorption process, however, the diffusion coefficient (D) was just 2.57 × 10−10 m2 s−1 at 298 K, much lower than that of activated carbon. After five adsorption–desorption cycles, the NC hydrogel still maintained a certain adsorption efficiency, obtaining a regenerability close to 95.8%. Simultaneously, results of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed that the adsorption was mainly caused by the ion exchange between Cd2+ and calcium ion (Ca2+), and partly due to the chemisorption of Cd2+ by hydroxyl groups.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the innovative NC hydrogel can be a potential adsorbent material for removing heavy metal ions from industrial effluent.

© 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Morphine‐mediated release of miR‐138 in astrocyte‐derived extracellular vesicles promotes microglial activation
Authors: Liao Ke , Niu Fang , Hu Guoku , Yang Lu , Dallon Blake , Villarreal Delaney , Buch Shilpa
Published: December 2020

Opioids, such as morphine, are the mainstay for the management of postsurgical pain. Over the last decade there has been a dramatic increase in deaths related to opioid overdose. While opioid abuse has been shown to result in increased neuroinflammation, mechanism(s) underlying this process, remain less understood. In recent years, microRNAs have emerged as key mediators of gene expression regulating both paracrine signaling and cellular crosstalk. MiRNAs constitute the extracellular vesicle (EV) cargo and can shuttle from the donor to the recipient cells. Exposure of human primary astrocytes to morphine resulted in induction and release of miR‐138 in the EVs isolated from conditioned media of cultured astrocytes. Released EVs were, in turn, taken up by the microglia, leading to activation of these latter cells. Interestingly, activation of microglia involved binding of the GUUGUGU motif of miR138 to the endosomal toll like receptor (TLR)7, leading, in turn, to cellular activation. These findings were further corroborated in vivo in wildtype mice wherein morphine administration resulted in increased microglial activation in the thalamus. In TLR7−/− mice on the other hand, morphine failed to induce microglial activation. These findings have ramifications for the development of EV‐loaded anti‐miRNAs as therapeutics for alleviating neuroinflammation in opioids abusers.
Tumour extracellular vesicle‐derived Complement Factor H promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis by inhibiting complement‐dependent cytotoxicity of tumour cells
Authors: Mao Xiaowen , Zhou Longyin , Tey Sze Keong , Ma Angel Po Yee , Yeung Cherlie Lot Sum , Ng Tung Him , Wong Samuel Wan Ki , Liu Bonnie Hei Man , Fung Yi Man Eva , Patz Edward F. , Cao Peihua , Gao Yi , Yam Judy Wai Ping
Published: December 2020

The complement system is involved in the immunosurveillance of pathogens and tumour cells. Proteomic profiling revealed that extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells contained a significant number of complement proteins. Complement Factor H (CFH), an abundant soluble serum protein that inhibits the alternative complement pathway, was found to be highly expressed in EVs of metastatic HCC cell lines. Here, we investigated the functional role of EV‐CFH and explored the therapeutic efficacy of targeting EV‐CFH with an anti‐CFH antibody in HCC. The results showed that EVs that are enriched in CFH promoted HCC cell growth, migration, invasiveness and enhanced liver tumour formation in mice. EV‐CFH also promoted metastasis, which was significantly abrogated when treated with an anti‐CFH antibody. These findings demonstrate an unexplored function of EV‐CFH in protecting HCC cells by evading complement attack, thereby facilitating tumorigenesis and metastasis. Lastly, we demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of an anti‐CFH antibody in suppressing tumour formation in a syngeneic mouse model. This study suggests a new therapeutic strategy for HCC, by inhibiting EV‐CFH with a tumour specific anti‐CFH antibody.
Optimizing noncontact oxygen‐plasma treatment to improve the performance of a top‐down nanofabricated surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrate with structurally responsive, high‐aspect‐ratio nanopillar array
Authors: Chevalier Robert B. , Dwyer Jason R.
Published: December 2020

Our use of a commercially available monolithic surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrate based on metallized arrays of nanopillars has been hindered by the structured and variable background spectrum found in as‐supplied substrates. We identify surface contamination—at minimum from the shipping container—as the root cause of the variability and observed that our cleaning protocol could enhance the spectral performance but could also significantly degrade it in some cases. These uniquely nanostructured substrates offer on‐demand hot spot formation by solvent‐evaporation‐induced nanopillar leaning, so that oxygen‐plasma treatment was used as a noncontact method to preserve this capability. Suitable plasma cleaning conditions produced less structured background spectra and yielded higher signal intensities. Detrimental plasma power and exposure durations could yield significantly cleaner background spectra but at the significant cost of response to analyte. Scanning electron micrographs showed the plasma could alter the surface morphology. Optimization of oxygen‐plasma settings must therefore balance favorable effects such as contaminant removal, improved substrate wetting, and signal enhancement with deleterious effects such as structural damage to the substrate.
Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound for Biliary Ischemia
Authors: Zheng Bo‐Wen , Wu Tao , Ju Jin‐Xiu , Wu Li‐Li , Zhang Hong‐Jun , Lian Yu‐Fan , Tong Ge , Li Qiao‐Jia , Qiu Chen , Zhou Hui‐Chao , Zheng Rong‐Qin , Ren Jie
Published: December 2020

Objectives

Biliary perfusion is considered to contribute to biliary diseases, but routine imaging methods are insufficient to show it. This research investigated the ability of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for biliary perfusion in a biliary ischemia model.

Methods

This research consisted of 2 parts. First, to determine whether CEUS enhancement of the tiny biliary wall represents biliary perfusion, a vascular tracer was used as a reference to evaluate the consistency with the enhancement of the biliary wall on CEUS and the staining by the vascular tracer under the conditions of occluded and recovered biliary perfusion. In the second part, the ability of CEUS for biliary ischemia was further evaluated with microvascular density measurement as a reference. The enhancement patterns were assigned CEUS scores, in which higher scores meant more decreased enhancement, and the diagnostic ability of CEUS was assessed by a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

Results

The biliary wall was unstained by the vascular tracer and nonenhanced on CEUS when biliary perfusion was interrupted and was stained blue and enhanced after recovery. The biliary wall in the ischemia surgery group showed lower microvascular density measurements (P < .001), decreased enhancement levels (P < .001), and higher CEUS scores (P < .001). When a CEUS score of 3 or higher (obvious decrease of the biliary wall to hypoenhancement or nonenhancement in the arterial phase or rapid wash‐out to nonenhancement in the portal venous phase) was applied, CEUS had sensitivity of 87.8%, specificity of 98.3%, accuracy of 93.8%, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.98.

Conclusions

Contrast enhancement of the biliary wall on CEUS represents biliary perfusion and has reasonably good diagnostic performance for biliary ischemia in an experimental animal setting.
Transformative agreements: Do they pave the way to open access?
Authors: Borrego Ángel , Anglada Lluís , Abadal Ernest
Published: December 2020

Transformative agreements, also known as ‘offsetting’, ‘read and publish’, or ‘publish and read’ agreements, have shifted the focus of scholarly journal licensing from cost containment towards open access publication. An analysis of 36 full‐text transformative agreements recorded in the ESAC registry shows that ‘transformative agreement’ is an umbrella term that encompasses different kinds of contracts. We differentiate between pre‐transformative, partially transformative, and fully transformative agreements. Pre‐transformative agreements are traditional subscription licences that grant article processing charge (APC) discounts or vouchers for open access publication of a limited number of articles. Partially transformative agreements differentiate between a read fee and a publish fee to cover the processing charges of a certain number of articles. Fully transformative agreements allow unlimited open access publication of the scholarly output of the subscribing institution. In all three categories, some agreements restrict open access publication to hybrid journals, whereas others allow publication in both hybrid and gold journals. Transformative agreements are more transparent than traditional journal licences, allow authors to retain copyright, and make provisions to facilitate the management of open access workflows. It is hard to assess whether these agreements are just a temporary phase in the transition towards open access or will perpetuate the current structure of the scholarly communication system and its associated high costs.
Substituent Effects Control Spiropyran–Merocyanine Equilibria and Mechanochromic Utility
Authors: Sommer Michael
Published: December 2020

Spiropyran (SP) derivatives can be converted into the colored merocyanine (MC) form using a variety of triggers. Optical switching by light for memories and dynamic systems is long known. Recently, mechanical force has been reported as an additional stimulus that converts SP into MC. SP‐based mechanochromic systems are especially interesting for polymer scientists, as the covalent attachment of polymer chains is ideal to transduce force to the SP level. Whether such materials are investigated to better understand fundamental processes or long standing questions in polymer science, to design force sensors or to self‐report damage, or simply pose fascinating materials which turn colored upon deformation, they have intrigued polymer scientists for more than a decade. With the chemistry of SPs being feasible and SP functionalization important to modulate SP/MC equilibria, a significant amount of work on SP structure‐ mechanochromic function relations has accumulated. SPs can be used as bifunctional initiators, cross‐linkers, monomers, or be synthesized during polymerization. This feature article provides an overview of how the chemistry used sets the boundaries within which the mechanochromic response of SP containing polymers can be modulated.
Obesity Trends and Associations with Types of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in US Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007‐2016
Authors: Zhang Yun , Yang Joanna , Hou Wei , Arcan Chrisa
Published: December 2020

Objective

Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) have been linked to adult adiposity. This research aims to explore 10‐year (2007‐2016) trends in obesity and abdominal obesity prevalence and associations with different types of PA and SB among US adults.

Methods

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data were used with 20‐ to 64‐year‐old adults (n = 20,360; mean age: 41.9 years; male: 50.5%; non‐Hispanic White: 64.3%). Sex‐ and sex‐ and race‐specific linear trends in the prevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity, and moderate and vigorous work‐ and recreation‐related PA and SB were estimated. Weighted logistic models explored the association between risk of obesity or abdominal obesity with each type of PA and SB by sex, adjusted for relevant confounders.

Results

There were significant increasing trends in obesity and abdominal obesity in both sexes and in Hispanic adults. Men at higher vigorous work‐related PA levels (P = 0.045) and women at higher moderate recreational‐related PA (P = 0.005) levels had decreased risk of abdominal obesity. Women at the highest versus the lowest level of SB had increased risk of abdominal obesity (P = 0.017).

Conclusions

There was a significantly reduced risk for abdominal obesity with a few types of PA among both sexes and an increased risk with SB among women only.
Understanding the Photoexcitation of Room Temperature Ionic Liquids
Authors: Leier Julia , Michenfelder Nadine C. , Unterreiner Andreas‐Neil
Published: December 2020

Photoexcitation of (neat) room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) leads to the observation of transient species that are reminiscent of the composition of the RTILs themselves. In this minireview, we summarize state‐of‐the‐art in the understanding of the underlying elementary processes. By varying the anion or cation, one aim is to generally predict radiation‐induced chemistry and physics of RTILs. One major task is to address the fate of excess electrons (and holes) after photoexcitation, which implies an overview of various formation mechanisms considering structural and dynamical aspects. Therefore, transient studies on time scales from femtoseconds to microseconds can greatly help to elucidate the most relevant steps after photoexcitation. Sometimes, radiation may eventually result in destruction of the RTILs making photostability another important issue to be discussed. Finally, characteristic heterogeneities can be associated with specific physicochemical properties. Influencing these properties by adding conventional solvents, like water, can open a wide field of application, which is briefly summarized.
Reconsidering the role of the built environment in human–wildlife interactions
Authors: Serenari Christopher
Published: December 2020

In facing our greatest challenges, researchers have questioned where the ‘wild things’ will reside in the future, and large carnivores have been a primary focal area.

The built environment plays a critical role in the propagation of countless species including carnivores; however, contemporary conceptualizations of human–nature relations do not satisfactorily attend to where the built environment should be placed within existing human–nature relation frameworks or how it impacts our ability to find space for carnivores.

This paper fills this information gap by investigating the role of the built environment in social–ecological systems (SES), specifically wildlife and carnivore conservation.

The paper unfolds in four stages: The first reviews empirical efforts to capture the relationship between human–natural–wildlife systems and the built environment. Second, using insights from the built environment literature, I argue that moving away from a common pool resource focus, decoupling wildlife and natural systems, investigating all infrastructure types and their interactions across systems, and considering the notion of hybrid systems offer pathways forward. Third, an explanation of the built environment's linkages to human and carnivore systems is undertaken to illustrate how the built environment facilitates the material and symbolic interactions through a blending of properties from human, wildlife and natural systems. Lastly, the argument is made that attending to the role of the built environment in human–wildlife relations can stimulate new research that reveals unhelpful habitual behaviour, feedbacks and barriers, and may also help explain unintended or unexplained consequences impacting human–carnivore relations not fully considered under existing frameworks.

A freePlain Language Summarycan be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
State anxiety and cardiovascular activity in an academic examination
Authors: Gómez‐Íñiguez Consolación , Rodríguez Cristina Guerrero , Cantero Francisco Palmero
Published: December 2020

Exam is an academic stressor that frequently triggers the affective reaction of anxiety, as well as psychophysiological changes in the autonomic nervous system. Anxiety is a negative affective variable associated with a low level of performance. This study examined the impact of an academic exam on state anxiety (SA) levels and the effects on cardiovascular activity during its performance, as well as its possible influence on the score. The study group was composed of 122 female university students. Cardiovascular responses (heart rate [HR], diastolic blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure) were recorded continuously in three phases (before, during, and after the exam) for each participant. The SA was obtained with the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before the exam. Then, those with extremely low and high SA scores were assigned to the low and high anxiety groups, respectively. The exam score reflected the performance level. The results partially confirmed our hypotheses. The high SA group showed significant fluctuations in cardiovascular activity; in particular, the HRs were higher than in the low SA group during the exam (not in diastolic and systolic pressures, respectively). On the other hand, the high SA group showed lower performance expectations scores than the low SA group, and the level of performance was similar in the two groups. Therefore, the exam confirmed changes in the HR with respect to the SA level, with no significant impact on performance.
Metagenomic sequencing and evaluation of the host response in the pediatric aerodigestive population
Authors: Gatcliffe Chelsea , Rao Aparna , Brigger Matthew , Dimmock David , Hansen Christian , Montgomery Jesse , Schlaberg Robert , Coufal Nicole G. , Farnaes Lauge
Published: December 2020

Objectives

To assess the diagnostic utility of metagenomic sequencing in pediatric aerodigestive clinic patients being evaluated for chronic aspiration. We hypothesize that using a metagenomics platform will aid in the identification of microbes not found on standard culture.

Study Design and Methods

Twenty‐four children referred to an aerodigestive clinic were enrolled in a prospective, single‐site, cross‐sectional cohort study. At the time of clinical evaluation under anesthesia, two samples were obtained: an upper airway sample and a sample from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Samples were sent for routine culture and analyzed using Explify® Respiratory, a CLIA Laboratory Developed Test which identifies respiratory commensals and pathogens through RNA and DNA sequencing. Since RNA was sequenced in the course of the metagenomic analysis to identify organisms (RNA viruses and bacteria), the sequencing approach also captured host derived messenger RNA during sample analysis. This incidentally obtained host transcriptomic data were analyzed to evaluate the host immune response. The results of these studies were correlated with the clinical presentation of the research subjects.

Results

In 10 patients, organisms primarily associated with oral flora were identified in the BAL. Standard culture was negative in three patients where clinical metagenomics led to a result with potential clinical significance. Transcriptomic data correlated with the presence or absence of dysphagia as identified on prior videofluoroscopic evaluation of swallowing.

Conclusions

Clinical metagenomics allows for simultaneous analysis of the microbiota and the host immune response from BAL samples. As the technologies in this field continue to advance, such testing may improve the diagnostic evaluation of patients with suspected chronic aspiration.
Use of safflower as a trap crop for managing the mirid bug, Lygus pratensis Linnaeus (Hemiptera: Miridae), in cotton fields
Authors: Wang Wei , Zhang Renfu , Liu Haiyang , Tian Junce , Shelton Anthony M , Yao Ju
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

Cotton has been increasingly harmed by the mirid bug (Lygus pratensis Linnaeus) in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. Using trap plants within or around the border of the cotton may be a beneficial management strategy for this pest of cotton.

RESULTS

The potential of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius Linn) as a trap plant for managing L. pratensis was evaluated in laboratory and field experiments. Y‐tube olfactometer assays demonstrated that L. pratensis was highly attracted to volatiles derived from safflower. Field experiments showed that safflower plots hosted more L. pratensis (adults and nymphs) than cotton plots. Early‐sown safflower had more L. pratensis than mid‐sown or late‐sown safflower, and was more conducive to the settlement and reproduction of L. pratensis. The density of L. pratensis on safflower trap crops in three sowing patterns was significantly higher than on adjacent cotton. The pattern of intercropping safflower trap crops was more effective at reducing densities of L. pratensis on cotton than placing safflower as ‘spot’ trap crops or peripheral trap crops. However, this result also may be related to the overall area of the safflower trap crops. With regular chemical control of L. pratensis on safflower trap crops, the number of cotton bolls was increased by 10.04%, whereas the rate of boll damage was reduced by 33.44%, compared to cotton without safflower trap crops and insecticide sprays.

CONCLUSION

Safflower shows promise as an effective trap crop for L. pratensis, and may contribute to controlling L. pratensis in cotton. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Atomic Layer Deposition of Metal Oxides in Perovskite Solar Cells: Present and Future
Authors: Xing Zhi , Xiao Junjun , Hu Ting , Meng Xiangchuan , Li Dengxue , Hu Xiaotian , Chen Yiwang
Published: December 2020

In recent years, the development of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is advancing along the way, and the efficiency is comparable to traditional silicon‐based solar cells. However, as crucial factors in the road to commercialization, stability and upscaling manufacture have not been fully investigated yet. To solve these problems, the exploration of charge transport layer (CTL) is clearly imminent, which is critical to the stability of PSCs. Among them, inorganic metal oxides have better stability than organic CTL. Particularly, the atomic layer deposition (ALD) process can fabricate dense and scalable metal oxides based on the self‐limiting surface reaction. This perspective focuses on the recent progress of ALD‐grown metal oxides in PSCs: both of electron and hole transport layer; connection layer in tandem architectures; application in semi‐transparent perovskite solar cells (ST‐PSCs); prospective of commercialization feasibility of the ALD‐grown metal oxides in ST‐PSCs.
Shrinkage, cementitious paste volume, and wet packing density of concrete
Authors: Lai M. H. , Binhowimal S. A. M. , Griffith A. M. , Hanzic L. , Chen Zhouyi , Wang Qing , Ho J. C. M.
Published: December 2020

Shrinkage of concrete refers to the volumetric change of concrete due to cement hydration (i.e., self‐desiccation) and environmental drying (i.e., water evaporation). It creates dimensional instability and induces tensile stress when the concrete is restrained that may be large enough to cause cracking. The most fundamental way to mitigate concrete shrinkage is to decrease the shrinkage of cementitious paste in the mix design. Some major factors of concrete mix design affecting the shrinkage include water‐to‐cementitious material (W/CM) ratio, dosage of superplasticizer (SP), concrete strength, and cementitious paste volume (CPV). While the effects of concrete strength and CPV on shrinkage are straightforward, those of W/CM and SP are more complicated because they also affect the pore size and distribution that influence the moisture movement. In this paper, it is advocated to study the concrete shrinkage by its wet packing density (WPD). Considering that the shrinkage of concrete is associated with the moisture movement in capillary pores and that the WPD accounts for the void ratio in fresh concrete, it will be shown in this paper that the shrinkage can be correlated negatively to the WPD with the consideration of CPV. The paper thus provides a new insight to the interdependence amongst shrinkage, CPV, and WPD of concrete.
Early embryonic exposure to chlorpyrifos‐cypermethrin combination induces pattern deficits in the heart of domestic hen
Authors: Verma Urja , Khaire Kashmira , Desai Isha , Sharma Shashikant , Balakrishnan Suresh
Published: December 2020

Exposure to chlorpyrifos‐cypermethrin combination during early development resulted in defective looping and ventricular noncompaction of heart in domestic chicken. The study was extended to elucidate the molecular basis of this novel observation. The primary culture of chicken embryonic heart cells showed a concentration‐dependent loss of viability when challenged with this combination of technical‐grade insecticides. Comet assay, DNA ladder assay, and analyses of appropriate markers at transcript and protein levels, revealed that chlorpyrifos‐cypermethrin combination induced cell death by activating apoptosis. Parallelly, the tissues derived from control and experimental group hearts were checked for apoptotic markers, and the result was much similar to that of the in‐vitro study. Further analysis showed that chlorpyrifos‐cypermethrin combination deranged the expression pattern of the transcriptional regulators of cardiogenesis, namely TBX20, GATA5, HAND2, and MYOCD. This, together with heightened apoptosis, could well be the reason behind the observed structural anomalies in the heart of chlorpyrifos‐cypermethrin poisoned embryos.
A non‐radioactive DNA synthesis assay demonstrates that elements of the Sigma 1278b Mip1 mitochondrial DNA polymerase domain and C‐terminal extension facilitate robust enzyme activity
Authors: Young Matthew J. , Imperial Robin J. , Lakhi Suman , Court Deborah A.
Published: December 2020

The yeast DNA polymerase gamma, Mip1, is a useful tool to investigate the impact of orthologous human disease variants on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication. However, Mip1 is characterized by a C‐terminal extension (CTE) that is not found on orthologous metazoan DNA polymerases, and the CTE is required for robust enzymatic activity. Two MIP1 alleles exist in standard yeast strains, encoding Mip1[S] or Mip1[Σ]. Mip1[S] is associated with reduced mtDNA stability and increased error rates in vivo. Although the Mip1[S] allele was initially identified in S288c, the Mip1[Σ] allele is widely present among available yeast genome sequences, suggesting that it is the wild‐type (WT) allele. We developed a novel non‐radioactive polymerase gamma assay to assess Mip1 functioning at its intracellular location, the mitochondrial membrane. Membrane fractions were isolated from yeast cells expressing full‐length or CTE truncation variants of Mip1[S] or a chimeric Mip1[S] isoform harboring the Mip1[Σ]‐specific T661 residue (cMip1 T661). Relative incorporation of digoxigenin (DIG)‐11‐deoxyuridine monophosphate (DIG‐dUMP) by cMip1 T661 was higher than that by Mip1[S]. A cMip1 T661variant lacking 175 C‐terminal residues maintained WT levels of DIG‐dUMP incorporation, whereas the C‐terminal variant lacking 205 residues displayed a significant decrease in incorporation. Newly synthesized DIG‐labeled DNA decreased during later phases of reactions carried out at 37°C, suggesting temperature‐sensitive destabilization of the polymerase domain and/or increased shuttling of the nascent DNA into the exonuclease domain. Comparative analysis of Mip1 enzyme functions using our novel assay has further demonstrated the importance of the CTE and T661 encoded by MIP1[Σ] in yeast mtDNA replication.
Safety Aboard Chinese Vessels
Authors: Xue Conghua
Published: December 2020

The aim of this chapter is to explore the factors that affect ship to shore safety reporting in the Chinese shipping industry. The study was motivated by of the paucity of research in this specific area. Previous research in shore-based industries suggests that there may be cause for concern in shipping as ashore there is evidence of significant underreporting across a wide range of industries. This study, though it is small in scale, was conducted to partially fill the existing gap. The data used was collected from two major chemical shipping companies in China. Both employers and employees’ perspectives were considered in the process of data analysis. Furthermore, the ‘social factors’ behind the scene of reporting—underreporting, or biased reporting—were explored.
Union Organising in the Context of Regional Labour Market Decline: The Case of Nautilus International
Authors: Gekara Victor Oyaro
Published: December 2020

Over the past few decades the impact of globalisation on society and industry at the national level has been immense and has been studied and extensively documented in the literature. Some of the major benefits and losses accruing from economic globalisation, particularly since the late 1970s have been debated by dominant political economy commentators (see e.g. Harvey 2005; Held et al. 1999; Strange 1996; Scholte 2000; Stiglitz 2002; Giddens 2002; Chomsky 2017). An important aspect of the globalising process has been the extensive restructuring of production and distribution patterns in search of cheaper resources, through aggressive outsourcing and offshoring. The result for many national economies, particularly advanced industrial states, has been a drastic decline in traditional industries affecting both labour and capital (Dunning 1993; Beck 2005; Perraton 2019). This chapter examines the decline in the seafaring labour markets of the so-called Traditional Maritime Countries (TMN), and the implications for union organising focusing on the UK and its seafaring labour. It examines the creation of Nautilus International (NI) Union via a merger of unions for maritime professionals across different countries in Europe initially beginning with Great Britain, the Netherlands and later Switzerland. This was a uniquely strategic response to declining membership and weakening organising capacity. Some of the key challenges associated with unions trying to organise and represent their members in the context of industrial and labour market decline are explored.
On-Line Support Groups for Families in China
Authors: Tang Lijun
Published: December 2020

Seafarer-partners (seafarers’ wives or girlfriends) face a number of problems in everyday life, including consecutive long-term separations and social isolation. In the context that seafaring families are likely to be geographically dispersed, a virtual community provided Chinese seafarer-partners with a valuable space to talk about problems and to both offer and receive support. Despite the physical distances between community members they felt closely connected to each other in the community because they were all seafarer-partners and had similar concerns and experiences. By examining their interaction in this community, the chapter reveals the ways in which this virtual community may offer, essential, largely unseen, informal, support to seafarers by serving to protect their very vulnerable relationships in their absence.