bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Redefining floristic zones in the Korean Peninsula using high‐resolution georeferenced specimen data and self‐organizing maps
Authors: Jung Songhie , Cho Yong‐chan
Published: September 2020

The use of biota to analyze the distribution pattern of biogeographic regions is essential to gain a better understanding of the ecological processes that cause biotic differentiation and biodiversity at multiple spatiotemporal scales. Recently, the collection of high‐resolution biological distribution data (e.g., specimens) and advances in analytical theory have led to the quantitative analysis and more refined spatial delineation of biogeographic regions. This study was conducted to redefine floristic zones in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and to better understand the eco‐evolutionary significance of the spatial distribution patterns. Based on 309,333 distribution data of 2,954 vascular plant species in the Korean Peninsula, we derived floristic zones using self‐organizing maps. We compared the characteristics of the derived regions with those of historical floristic zones and ecologically important environmental factors (climate, geology, and geography). In the clustering analysis of the floristic assemblages, four distinct regions were identified, namely, the cold floristic zone (Zone I) in high‐altitude regions at the center of the Korean Peninsula, cool floristic zone (Zone II) in high‐altitude regions in the south of the Korean Peninsula, warm floristic zone (Zone III) in low‐altitude regions in the central and southern parts of the Korean Peninsula, and maritime warm floristic zone (Zone IV) including the volcanic islands Jejudo and Ulleungdo. Totally, 1,099 taxa were common to the four floristic zones. Zone IV showed the highest abundance of specific plants (those found in only one zone), with 404 taxa. Our study improves floristic zone definitions using high‐resolution regional biological distribution data. It will help better understand and re‐establish regional species diversity. In addition, our study provides key data for hotspot analysis required for the conservation of plant diversity.
Stable isotope patterns in lake food webs reflect productivity gradients
Authors: Zimmer Kyle D. , Grow Ryan C. , Tipp Angela R. , Herwig Brian R. , Staples David F. , Cotner James B. , Jacobson Peter C.
Published: September 2020

Stable isotopes 13C and 15N are often used in lake ecosystems to assess energy sources and trophic positions, respectively. However, δ13C and δ15N are also influenced by internal biogeochemical processes in epilimnetic and hypolimnetic habitats in lakes, but the extent to which biogeochemical processing mediates isotope values between these two habitats, and whether these patterns are influenced by lake productivity is not known. We sampled δ13C and δ15N in epilimnetic mussels, Chaoborus, cisco (Coregonus artedi), and seston and zooplankton in the epilimnia and hypolimnia of 22 Minnesota (USA) lakes ranging from oligotrophic to eutrophic. We also measured lake temperature–oxygen profiles and light levels to assess factors influencing isotope patterns. Isotope samples were baseline‐corrected using epilimnetic mussels in each lake (sample—mussel) to control for watershed‐level differences in isotope values. Results showed δ13C in epilimnetic and hypolimnetic zooplankton, hypolimnetic seston, Chaoborus, and cisco became more depleted in δ13C relative to epilimnetic mussels in low‐productivity lakes where light penetrated into the hypolimnion, while epilimnetic seston δ13C stayed similar to mussel δ13C in all lakes. This pattern was likely due to hypolimnetic phytoplankton in clearwater lakes incorporating more respired CO2, which is depleted in δ13C, and subsequently passing depleted δ13C values up the food chain. Results also showed habitat differences in δ15N with epilimnetic and hypolimnetic zooplankton, hypolimnetic seston, Chaoborus, and cisco becoming more enriched relative to epilimnetic mussels in low‐productivity lakes with higher O2 levels in the hypolimnion, while epilimnetic seston δ15N remained similar to mussel values. The δ15N pattern is consistent with the idea that denitrification and microbial degradation enriched hypolimnetic seston relative to epilimnetic seston in low nutrient lakes, while enhanced epilimnetic primary production enriched epilimnetic δ15N seston relative to hypolimnetic seston in high nutrient lakes. Our results indicate isotopic differences between epilimnetic and hypolimnetic organisms that change along productivity gradients and suggest that microbial processes and the light regime are important drivers.
Age‐0 Smallmouth Bass abundance depends on physicochemical conditions and stream network position
Authors: Miller Andrew D. , Brewer Shannon K.
Published: September 2020

Stream fish survival and recruitment are products of a physicochemical environment that affects growth and provides refuge; yet, the drivers of spatiotemporal variation in juvenile fish abundance remain unclear. Understanding how physicochemical conditions drive spatial and temporal patterns in fish abundances provides insight into how conditions across stream networks influence fish population success, thereby providing direction to managers about the types and locations of conservation actions that would be most beneficial. Using snorkel and habitat surveys of 120 sites sampled from 2015 to 2017, we evaluated the multiscale relationships among physicochemical features, hydrology, and age‐0 Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu velox) abundance in relation to network spatial position. Abundance of age‐0 bass was spatiotemporally variable in relation to a July streamflow–network position interaction, a pool depth–stream size interaction, and a stream temperature–network position interaction. High flows at the end of the nesting season were related to lower age‐0 abundance, but this effect was dampened in stream reaches in close proximity to larger mainstems. In small streams, reaches with deeper pool habitat supported higher age‐0 bass abundances, but this trend was not apparent in larger tributaries and mainstem systems. Generally, colder streams had lower age‐0 Smallmouth Bass abundance, though this relationship was not apparent in reaches adjacent to larger streams that generally supported higher age‐0 bass abundances. Conservation actions that (1) facilitate habitat connectivity within and among streams, (2) limit future anthropogenic practices that alter natural geomorphology by creating shallower stream channels, and (3) maintain adequate flow magnitude and timing to support channel complexity (e.g., deeper pools within smaller catchments) would be most beneficial to supporting rearing habitat for age‐0 riverine Smallmouth Bass.
An assessment of statistical methods for nonindependent data in ecological meta‐analyses
Authors: Song Chao , Peacor Scott D. , Osenberg Craig W. , Bence James R.
Published: September 2020

In ecological meta‐analyses, nonindependence among observed effect sizes from the same source paper is common. If not accounted for, nonindependence can seriously undermine inferences. We compared the performance of four meta‐analysis methods that attempt to address such nonindependence and the standard random‐effect model that ignores nonindependence. We simulated data with various types of within‐paper nonindependence, and assessed the standard deviation of the estimated mean effect size and Type I error rate of each method. Although all four methods performed substantially better than the standard random‐effects model that assumes independence, there were differences in performance among the methods. A two‐step method that first summarizes the multiple observed effect sizes per paper using a weighted mean and then analyzes the reduced data in a standard random‐effects model, and a robust variance estimation method performed consistently well. A hierarchical model with both random paper and study effects gave precise estimates but had a higher Type I error rates, possibly reflecting limitations of currently available meta‐analysis software. Overall, we advocate the use of the two‐step method with a weighted paper mean and the robust variance estimation method as reliable ways to handle within‐paper nonindependence in ecological meta‐analyses.
The response of lianas to 20 yr of nutrient addition in a Panamanian forest
Authors: Schnitzer Stefan A. , Estrada‐Villegas Sergio , Wright S. Joseph
Published: September 2020

Over the past two decades, liana density and basal area have been increasing in many tropical forests, which has profound consequences for forest diversity and functioning. One hypothesis to explain increasing lianas is elevated nutrient deposition in tropical forests resulting from fossil fuels, agricultural fertilizer, and biomass burning. We tested this hypothesis by surveying all lianas ≥1 cm in diameter (n = 3,967) in 32 plots in a fully factorial nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) addition experiment in a mature tropical forest in central Panama. We conducted the nutrient‐addition experiment from 1998 until present and we first censused lianas in 2013 and then again in 2018. After 20 yr of nutrient addition (1998–2018), liana density, basal area, and rarefied species richness did not differ significantly among any of the nutrient‐addition and control treatments. Moreover, nutrient addition in the most recent 5 yr of the experiment did not affect liana relative growth, recruitment, or mortality rates. From 2013 until 2018, liana density, basal area, and species richness increased annually by 1.6%, 1.4%, and 2.4%, respectively. Nutrient addition did not influence these increases. Our findings indicate that nutrient deposition does not explain increasing lianas in this tropical forest. Instead, increases in tree mortality and disturbance, atmospheric carbon dioxide, drought frequency and severity, and hunting pressure may be more likely explanations for the increase in lianas in tropical forests.
Approximate analytic expressions for the electrophoretic mobility of spheroidal particles
Authors: Ohshima Hiroyuki
Published: September 2020

Approximate analytic expressions are derived for the electrophoretic mobility of spheroidal particles (prolate and oblate) carrying low zeta potential in an electrolyte solution under an applied tangential or transverse electric field. The present approximation method, which is based on the observation that the electrophoretic mobility of a particle is determined mainly by the distortion of the applied electric field by the presence of the particle. The exact expression for the equilibrium electric potential distribution around the particle, which can be expressed as an infinite sum of spheroidal wave functions, is not needed in the present approximation. The electrophoretic mobility values calculated with these approximate expressions for spheroidal particles with constant surface potential or constant surface charge density are in excellent agreement with the exact numerical results of previous reports with the relative errors less than about 4%.
NZVI©Au magnetic nanocomposite‐based electrochemical magnetoimmunosensing for ultrasensitive detection of troponin‐T cardiac biomarker
Authors: Djebbi Mohamed Amine , Boubakri Saber , Braiek Mohamed , Jaffrezic‐Renault Nicole , Namour Philippe , Amara Abdesslem Ben Haj
Published: September 2020

Early, inexpensive, reliable, and accurate diagnosis of cardiovascular abnormalities has become of crucial importance to prevent and halt their progression. Herein, we report a label‐free electrochemical magnetoimmunosensing for monitoring cardiac diseases through qualitative and quantitative detection of cardiac troponin‐T (Tpn‐T) in aqueous solution. In this context, a nanocomposite of gold nanoparticles coated a magnetic nanoscale zero‐valent iron core (NZVI©Au) is employed as a substrate to facilitate the electron transfer and to bind more primary Tpn‐T antibodies. The immunosensing platform consists of an anti‐cardiac troponin‐T antibody (Tpn‐T‐ab) modified NZVI©Au magnetic membrane attached onto a boron doped diamond (BDD) electrode. Sensing experiments were performed by the imposition of an external magnetic field at the backside of the electrode. The sensor response was performed using impedimetric assays, wherein the increase in the electron transfer resistance (Rct) correlated with an increase in the concentration of Tpn‐T. Linearity was obtained in the range from 1 to 109 fg/mL with a detection limit of 0.354 fg/mL. The proposed platform exhibited high selectivity, high reproducibility, and good stability, while retaining more than 90% of the sensitivity after 2 weeks of storage at 4°C. The determination of Tpn‐T is well compared with previously reported methods and has been successfully tested in serum samples. This encouraging result suggests that the developed sensing strategy provides a high potential for the early assessment of Tpn‐T in point‐of‐care testing applications.
Novel analysis of second law and irreversibility for a solar power plant using heliostat field and molten salt
Authors: Zolfagharnasab Mohammad Hossein , Aghanajafi Cyrus , Kavian Soheil , Heydarian Niloufar , Ahmadi Mohammad Hossein
Published: September 2020

Nowadays, the low efficiency of solar energy power plant systems brings about uneconomical performance and high‐cost uncompetitive industries compared with the traditional fossil fuel ones. In order to overcome these kinds of issues, in this study, the performance of a solar tower coupled with a Rankine cycle is scrutinized using the first and second laws of thermodynamic. Moreover, a numerical code has been developed in the GNU Octave software environment to calculate the precise value for both energy and exergy losses of each component. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis approach corresponds to the variation of several inner parameters such as direct normal irradiation (DNI), molten salt outlet temperature (MSOT), and the molten salt velocity (MSV), environmental parameters such as wind speed and ambient temperature have been performed. In addition, the overall losses are calculated by considering all possible forms of losses such as convection, conduction, reflection, and emission, and also, the portion of each source of these losses are determined. The obtained results indicate that the maximum exergy loss occurs in the central receiver system (CRS), while the major energy loss occurs in the turbine located in the power block. The sensitivity analysis shows that the rise of DNI significantly increases the exergy%energy efficiency of the cycle and also, the portion of loss related to emission heat transfer would be enhanced. Moreover, the variation of the MSV and MSOT illustrate influencing the performance of the cycle; consequently, the MSOT changes demonstrate a reverse relation with energy and direct relation with exergy efficiency. Accordingly, an optimum value of 650K is calculated for the MSOT as well as an optimum value of 2 m%s for the MSV. The environmental sensitivity analysis indicates that the enhancement of wind speed and ambient temperature has a negative impact on the net output of the cycle, which is not desirable.
Inversion of provenance data and sediment load into spatially varying erosion rates
Authors: De Doncker Fien , Herman Frédéric , Fox Matthew
Published: September 2020

Sediment fingerprinting methods aim to determine the relative contribution of different source areas in detrital sediments based on natural properties – fingerprints – of the source areas. Here, we use U/Th–Pb age signatures as fingerprints, assuming that the age signal is not altered during erosion–transportation–deposition events, and given that recent technological advances enable precise dating of large amounts of grains. We introduce a formal inversion method that allows to disentangle the amalgamation of source contributions in detrital zircon data and enables to convert this information into an erosion rate map starting from the spatial distribution of zircon age signatures. Relying on the least‐squares method and using prior and covariance information to deal with non‐uniqueness, we show, using synthetic and natural examples, that we are able to retrieve erosion rate patterns of a catchment when the age distribution and zircon fertility for each source area are well known. Moreover, we show that not only zircon age fingerprints but also other tracers such as mineral content can be used. Furthermore, we found that adding data from samples taken at the outlet of tributaries improves the estimation of erosion rate patterns. We conclude that the least squares inverse model applied to detrital data has great potential for investigating erosion rates. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A stable hybrid Roe scheme on triangular grids
Authors: Phongthanapanich Sutthisak
Published: September 2020

Numerical shock instability is a common problem for shock‐capturing methods that try to resolve contact and shear waves with minimal diffusion. Most flux‐difference splitting and the AUSM family of schemes produce the carbuncle phenomenon on both structured and unstructured grids. The original Roe scheme is well known to generate shock anomalies and can lead to nonentropic weak solutions to the Euler equations. A simple and robust approach for healing these numerical instabilities is to apply the hybrid technique incorporated with an efficient weighting switch function to control the amount of dissipation in the vicinity of shock waves. This article proposes a simple, robust, and accurate hybrid Roe scheme (Roe+scheme) by hybridizing the Roe scheme and the modified AUSMV+scheme. A new normalized pressure/density‐based weighting switch function is proposed and applied to the scheme to minimize the numerical dissipation and maintain the robustness of the hybridization. The linearized discrete analysis is performed to evaluate the proposed scheme according to the perturbation damping mechanism of an odd–even decoupling problem. The resulting recursive equations indicate that the hybridized mechanism damps all perturbations effectively. Finally, several numerical examples demonstrated that the Roe+scheme provides an accurate, robust, and carbuncle‐free solution on both structured and unstructured triangular grids.
Forecasting mortality rates with the adaptive spatial temporal autoregressive model
Authors: Shi Yanlin
Published: September 2020

Accurate forecasts of mortality rates are essential to various types of demographic research such as population projection, and the pricing of insurance products such as pensions and annuities. Recent studies have considered a spatial temporal autoregressive (STAR) model for the mortality surface, where mortality rates for each age depend (temporally) on their historical values as well as (spatiality) on those of neighboring age cohorts. This model has sound statistical properties including cointegrated dependent variables and the existence of closed‐form solutions. Despite its improved forecasting performance over the famous Lee–Carter (LC) model, the constraint that only the effects of the same and neighboring cohorts are significant can be too restrictive. In this study, we adopt a data‐driven adaptive weighted structure and propose the adaptive STAR (ASTAR) model. Retaining all the desirable features of the STAR, our model uniformly outperforms the LC and STAR counterparts in terms of forecasting accuracy, when mortality data for ages 0–100 from the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Japan over the period 1950–2016 are considered. Two sensitivity tests and additional simulation results also lead to robust conclusions. The proposed ASTAR model could therefore be a widely useful tool for modeling and forecasting mortality rates in other contexts, and may be extended to multipopulation modeling.
Molecular detection, phylogenetic analysis, and antibacterial performance of lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional cheeses, North‐West Iran
Authors: Hajigholizadeh Mehran , Mardani Karim , Moradi Mehran , Jamshidi Abdollah
Published: September 2020

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are candidate probiotic bacteria that can provide health benefits when delivered via functional foods. The purpose of this study was to isolate and characterize LAB from traditional cheeses consumed in north‐west regions of Iran. A number of sixty traditional cheeses samples were collected and initially screened as LAB using biochemical and molecular methods. A fragment of 1,540 bp in size of 16s rRNA gene was amplified from 70 bacterial isolates. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was employed to differentiate LAB isolates. LAB isolates generated three different RFLP patterns using HinfI restriction enzyme. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that LAB isolates belonged to three genera including Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, and Lactococcus. Most of the isolated LAB strains belonged to Enterococcus spp. The antimicrobial performance of eight LAB isolates with different RFLP patterns ranged from 6.72 to 14.00 mm. It was concluded that molecular characterization of LAB strains in traditional cheeses will enhance our understanding of traditional food microbiota and will help to find bacterial strains with probiotic potential with great benefit both in health and industry.
Time of referral to older adult liaison psychiatry service and other factors affecting length of stay in the general hospital
Authors: Mujic Fedza , Cairns Ruth , Das‐Munshi Jayati
Published: September 2020

Objectives

To explore the relationship between social and clinical factors with (1) Time to referral to an older adult liaison psychiatry service, and (2) Length of stay (LOS), in a sample of older adults admitted to an acute general medical hospital receiving liaison psychiatry intervention, in London, United Kingdom, over a 3‐year period.

Methods

Information on patients referred to liaison psychiatry for older adults between January 2013 and December 2015 was collected using structured forms, with clinical diagnoses determined according to International Classification of Mental Disorders‐10. The association of social and clinical factors with the time taken to refer to liaison psychiatry and LOS was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression and zero‐truncated Poisson regression, respectively.

Results

Compared with people who were diagnosed with depression, older adults with psychotic and alcohol use disorders had higher rates of referral to liaison psychiatry (adjusted hazard ratios [aHRs] 1.83 [95% CI: 1.30, 2.59] and aHR 1.69 [95% CI: 1.01, 2.83]) respectively. In adjusted models, LOS was increased in older adults with delusional disorders and shorter in people with alcohol use disorders, personality disorders and learning disabilities, compared to people with depressive diagnoses. Within this cohort, a new definite dementia diagnosis and longer time to refer to liaison psychiatry were both associated with a longer length of general hospital in‐patient stay.

Conclusions

In older adults admitted to general medical hospitals, and needing liaison psychiatry input, timely referral may be associated with a shorter LOS.
Relationship between suicide rate and antidepressant prescription: An ecological study in the People's Republic of China
Authors: Xin Qianqian , Paudel Dhirendra , Li Liping , Zhang Bin , Yin Honglei
Published: September 2020

Objectives

The objective of this study was to estimate the features of suicide rate and its association with antidepressant prescriptions during the past decade in China.

Methods

Official data on suicides were obtained and stratified by four age groups, gender, urban/rural areas, and regions (East, Central, and West). The annual antidepressant prescriptions were expressed in pills per 100 persons calculated as the volume of prescriptions divided by the total population. Negative binomial regression was carried out to examine the association between suicide and other variables.

Results

Suicide rates in each stratum typically decreased from 2008 to 2015, while annual antidepressant prescriptions were generally increased by the year. The suicide rate increased with age and was greater in adult males than in females; higher in the central area and greater in rural than in urban areas. Suicide rates are negatively associated with antidepressant prescriptions including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.983, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.983–0.983), serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (IRR 0.951, 95% CI 0.951–0.951), tricyclic antidepressant (IRR 0.925, 95% CI 0.925–0.925) and total antidepressants (IRR 0.990, 95% CI 0.990–0.990) during 2008–2012.

Conclusion

Suicide varied among different studied stratum. Suicide rates are negatively associated with antidepressant prescriptions.
Sampling soil water along the pF curve for δ2H and δ18O analysis
Authors: Orlowski Natalie , Breuer Lutz
Published: September 2020

Soil water stable isotopes are widely used across disciplines (e.g., hydrology, ecology, soil science, and biogeochemistry). However, the full potential of stables isotopes as a tool for characterizing the origin, flow path, transport processes and residence times of water in different eco‐, hydro‐, and geological compartments has not yet been exploited. This is mainly due to the large variety of different methods for pore water extraction. While recent work has shown that matric potential affects the equilibrium fractionation, little work has examined how different water retention characteristics might affect the sampled water isotopic composition. Here, we present a simple laboratory experiment with two well‐studied standard soils differing in their physico‐chemical properties (e.g., clayey loam and silty sand). Samples were sieved, oven‐dried and spiked with water of known isotopic composition to full saturation. For investigating the effect of water retention characteristics on the extracted water isotopic composition, we used pressure extractors to sample isotopically labelled soil water along the pF curve. After pressure extraction, we further extracted the soil samples via cryogenic vacuum extraction. The null hypothesis guiding our work was that water held at different tensions shows the same isotopic composition. Our results showed that the sampled soil water differed isotopically from the introduced isotopic label over time and sequentially along the pF curve. Our and previous studies suggest caution in interpreting isotope results of extracted soil water and a need to better characterize processes that govern isotope fractionation with respect to soil water retention characteristics. In the future, knowledge about soil water retention characteristics with respect to soil water isotopic composition could be applied to predict soil water fractionation effects under natural and non‐stationary conditions. In this regard, isotope retention characteristics as an analog to water retention characteristics have been proposed as a way forward since matric potential affects the equilibrium fractionation between the bound water and the water vapour.
Mining Impacts Assessment Using the LCA Methodology: Case Study of Afema Gold Mine in Ivory Coast
Authors: Yao Kouadio Assemien François , Yao Blaise Koffi , Belcourt Olivier , Salze David , Lasm Théophile , Lopez-Ferber Miguel , Junqua Guillaume
Published: September 2020

Environmental impact assessment studies are mandatory for major industrial or infrastructure projects in most countries. These studies are usually limited to on-site impacts during exploitation but do not consider indirect impacts generated off-site or those concerning other steps of the project, including dismantling. National regulations in various countries have recently begun to include these neglected impacts to obtain a better appreciation of project trade-offs. Several scientists have highlighted the substantial potential of using the life cycle assessment methodology to increase the level of detail and completeness of environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies. Even if mining activities are known to produce significant local impacts, their consequences outside an extraction site have not yet been well documented. The implementation of the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology in the EIA procedure has been carried out in a Au mining project by separating on-site and off-site impacts during the entire life cycle of the mine from prospection to site restoration following the end of exploitation. Mining projects occur over large time periods and require diverse materials and processes. The main difficulty of such analysis is the data collection that needs to be extrapolated for some of the activities. Even with these limitations, the Afema case study highlighted the significant share of off-site impacts (from a spatial perspective) and the major contribution of the exploitation phase of the mine (from a temporal perspective). Operating activities, especially excavation, ore, and waste rock transportation, blasting, ore processing, and tailing treatments, are the main impacts produced during the exploitation phase and are involved in climate change, particulate matter formation, and land destruction. Therefore, this standardized LCA method should be recommended by the regulatory authorities for use in EIA procedures. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:465–479. © 2020 SETAC

KEY POINTS

The LCA method conducted has enabled the evaluation of global impacts (Climate Change, Fossil and Metal Depletion) which are not addressed generally in conventional EIAs but required by new regulations. The study revealed that the operating phase is the most impacting step of the life cycle of a mine. The study highlighted quite significant off-site impacts indicating the relevance to consider all of the background activities as well. The overall effects on Climate Change and Fossil Depletion are mainly caused by background activities, whereas Metal Depletion is caused by foreground activities.
Effect of time of day of recreational and household physical activity on prostate and breast cancer risk (MCC‐Spain study)
Authors: Weitzer Jakob , Castaño‐Vinyals Gemma , Aragonés Nuria , Gómez‐Acebo Inés , Guevara Marcela , Amiano Pilar , Martín Vicente , Molina‐Barceló Ana , Alguacil Juan , Moreno Victor , Suarez‐Calleja Claudia , Jiménez‐Moleón José Juan , Marcos‐Gragera Rafael , Papantoniou Kyriaki , Pérez‐Gómez Beatriz , Llorca Javier , Ascunce Nieves , Gil Leire , Gracia‐Lavedan Esther , Casabonne Delphine , Lope Virginia , Pollán Marina , Kogevinas Manolis
Published: September 2020

Experimental evidence indicates that exercise performed at different times of the day may affect circadian rhythms and circadian disruption has been linked to breast and prostate cancer. We examined in a population‐based case‐control study (MCC‐Spain) if the time‐of‐day when physical activity is done affects prostate and breast cancer risk. Lifetime recreational and household physical activity was assessed by in‐person interviews. Information on time‐of‐day of activity (assessed approximately 3 years after the assessment of lifetime physical activity and confounders) was available for 781 breast cancer cases, 865 population female controls, 504 prostate cases and 645 population male controls from 10 Spanish regions, 2008‐2013. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for different activity timings compared to inactive subjects using unconditional logistic regression adjusting for confounders. Early morning (8‐10 am) activity was associated with a protective effect compared to no physical activity for both breast (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.48‐1.15) and prostate cancer (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.44‐1.20); meta‐OR for the two cancers combined 0.74 (95%CI = 0.53‐1.02). There was no effect observed for breast or prostate cancer for late morning to afternoon activity while a protective effect was also observed for evening activity only for prostate cancer (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.45‐1.24). Protective effects of early morning activity were more pronounced for intermediate/evening chronotypes for both cancers. This is the first population‐based investigation identifying a differential effect of timing of physical activity on cancer risk with more pronounced effects for morning hour activity. Our results, if confirmed, may improve current physical activity recommendations for cancer prevention.
Board of directors' foreign experience and stock price informativeness
Authors: Ullah Farid , Jiang Ping , Shahab Yasir , Zheng Chenyang
Published: September 2020

We investigate the impact of board of directors' foreign experience on stock price informativeness from 2008 to 2016 in Chinese A‐share listed firms. The empirical findings suggest that board of directors' foreign experience has a positive and significant impact on stock price informativeness. By analysing the role of external monitoring factors, our results show that board of directors' foreign experience has a positive and significant impact on stock price informativeness in the absence of external monitoring factors such as audit quality, the cross‐listing of firms, and foreign ownership. Our findings are robust to the use of advanced techniques and the inclusion of instrumental variables. Overall, our study supports the resource dependency theory and the substitutional effect on the relationship between board of directors' foreign experience and stock price informativeness.
Disturbances of Taste and Smell Induced by Drugs
Authors: Ackerman Bruce H. , Kasbekar Nishaminy
Published: September 2020

We reviewed the current literature (1980–1990, 1991–1996) concerning drugs associated with anosmia, hyposmia, dysgeusia, parageusia, and ageusia, and the impact of these adverse effects. Case reports of patients with sudden and delayed onset of one of these disorders with evidence for implication of a drug were included. Disturbances of taste and smell among the elderly and chronically ill, including those with thermal injury, decreases interest in eating and secondarily impairs healing of wounds. Mechanisms involved with these sensory disturbances include deposition of silver sulfate in nerves after use of topical agents containing silver, altered influx of calcium and other ions, chelation or depletion of tissue‐bound zinc, disturbed bradykinin catabolism and second messenger synthesis, catabolism, and altered prostaglandin systems. Other mechanisms, particularly prolonged chemosensory disorders after early drug discontinuation, remain unknown.
Dual‐peak long period fiber grating coated with graphene oxide for label‐free and specific assays of H5N1 virus
Authors: Luo Binbin , Liu Zhijiang , Wang Xin , Shi Shenghui , Zhong Nianbing , Ma Peijie , Wu Shengxi , Wu Decao , Zhao Mingfu , Liang Wangwang
Published: September 2020

Avian influenza is an acute infectious disease caused by the avian influenza virus (AIV), which has caused enormous economic losses and posed considerable threats to public health. This study aimed to demonstrate an immunosensor based on dispersion turning point long‐period fiber grating (DTP‐LPFG) integrated with graphene oxide (GO) for the specific detection of a type of AIV H5N1 virus. LPFG was designed to work at DTP, whose dual‐peak spacing was very high sensitive to a refractive index. Anti‐H5N1 monoclonal antibodies were covalently bonded with the GO film on the fiber surface, thus constructing an immunosensor for the label‐free and specific detection of the H5N1 virus. The proposed method was capable of the reliable detection of H5N1 virus with the limit of detection as low as ~1.05 ng/ml within the large range of 1 ng/mL to 25 µg/mL. More importantly, immunoassays of the whole H5N1 virus in clinical samples further confirmed that the GO‐integrated DTP‐LPFG immunosensor showed very high specificity to the H5N1 virus and demonstrated great potential for clinical use.
Current state of therapeutic apheresis and cellular therapy education for transfusion medicine fellows in the United States
Authors: Pham Huy P. , Tran Minh‐Ha
Published: September 2020

Background

Numerous conditions are responsive to therapeutic apheresis (TA) and cellular therapy (CT) treatments. Both TA and CT are two broad and diverse knowledge fields within transfusion medicine (TM). We therefore sought to survey all the TM fellowship program directors (PDs) in the United States to examine the current fellow state education in TA and CT.

Methods

A 37‐question survey was sent to all PDs to collect details of TA and CT training for TM fellows.

Results

Responses from 29/51 (56.9%) surveyed programs were received. Most PDs considered TA and CT training for their fellows more than adequate. Two PDs from programs that did not directly oversee TA and CT services at their training sites stated that their program's training in these two areas were only “slightly adequate” or “moderately inadequate.” Detailed analysis of training in TA, cell collection, and CT suggests that trainees from programs with direct oversight of these services had longer training and more learning experiences compared to those in which outside rotations were required.

Conclusions

Transfusion medicine fellowship training in TA and CT varies. Most respondents, and particularly those from programs directly overseeing TA services, reported their fellows were adequately prepared in TA. Cellular therapy collections and laboratory operations, however, are less consistent areas of training despite the rapid expansion of these fields. Our survey suggests that a greater emphasis in CT training is needed.
Generalized gradient approximation adjusted to transition metals properties: Key roles of exchange and local spin density
Authors: Vega Lorena , Viñes Francesc
Published: September 2020

Perdew‐Burke‐Ernzerhof (PBE) and PBE adapted for solids (PBEsol) are exchange‐correlation (xc) functionals widely used in density functional theory simulations. Their differences are the exchange, μ, and correlation, β, coefficients, causing PBEsol to lose the Local Spin Density (LSD) response. Here, the μ/β two‐dimensional (2D) accuracy landscape is analyzed between PBE and PBEsol xc functional limits for 27 transition metal (TM) bulks, as well as for 81 TM surfaces. Several properties are analyzed, including the shortest interatomic distances, cohesive energies, and bulk moduli for TM bulks, and surface relaxation degree, surface energies, and work functions for TM surfaces. The exploration, comparing the accuracy degree with respect experimental values, reveals that the found xc minimum, called VV, being a PBE variant, represents an improvement of 5% in mean absolute percentage error terms, whereas this improvement reaches ~11% for VVsol, a xc resulting from the restoration of LSD response in PBEsol, and so regarded as its variant.
First report of the spectrum of δ‐globin gene mutations among women of reproductive age in Fujian area—Discrimination of δ‐thalassemia, α‐thalassemia, and Iron Deficiency Anemia
Authors: Chen Meihuan , Huang Hailong , Chen Lingji , Lin Na , Zhang Min , Lin Yuan , Xu Liangpu
Published: September 2020

Background

Low HbA2 level is an underlying of δ‐thalassemia, α‐thalassemia, and IDA. Interactions of these disorders can generate a wide spectrum of phenotype, which will pose diagnostic conundrum for clinical assessment, carrier screening, and genetic counseling.

Methods

Subjects with HbA2 levels below 2.0% with normal or reduced hematological parameters were recruited for further investigation. δ‐globin gene mutations were identified by DNA sequencing of the HBD gene. Serum ferritin (SF) concentration was determined by the chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. The three common deletional α‐thalassemia (‐‐SEA/αα, ‐α3.7/αα, and ‐α4.2/αα) were detected using Gap‐PCR, detection of the point mutations in the three nondeletional α‐thalassemia (αCSα/αα,αQSα/αα,αWSα/αα), and the 17 common β‐thalassemia was performed using reverse dot blot hybridization (RDB).

Results

We had characterized the δ‐globin gene mutations in 20 cases, revealing a frequency of 0.4% in the women of reproductive age (20/4 792). Two previously known mutations:‐77 T > C and −30 T > C and 3 novel δ‐globin gene defects: −44G > A,CD87C > T, and CD134T > A were found. In the selected cases, we also found 85 cases confirmed with (51.2%,85/166) IDA and 39 cases (23.5%,39/166) with common α‐thalassemia. Subjects with δ‐thalassemia had statistically higher levels of Hb, MCV, and MCH compared with other two groups, whereas statistically lower levels of RDW were seen in δ‐thalassemia group. What's more, statistically higher levels of SF were seen in δ‐thalassemia group, compared with IDA groups.

Conclusion

We reported the spectrum of δ‐thalassemia mutations for the first time with the frequency of 0.4% among women of reproductive age in Fujian area and found that −77T > C mutation was the most common mutation, followed by −30T > C mutation. What's more, 3 novel δ‐globin gene defects: −44G > A,CD87C > T and CD134T > A were found. A thorough analysis of the hematological, electrophoretic characterization, and the level of SF was needed to suspect and further investigate the existence of IDA, α‐thalassemia, and δ‐thalassemia.
Young adult trauma symptoms in the context of community violence exposure
Authors: Cole Andrea R. , Jaccard James , Munson Michelle R.
Published: September 2020

Aims

The primary purpose of this study is to understand how community violence exposure is associated with both common and unique variance characterizing posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms among young adults living in a low‐resourced setting.

Methods

Data were collected using a cross‐sectional survey design. Participants were recruited from public housing developments in a city in the eastern United States. Participants completed a survey that included questions related to community violence, PTS symptoms, and optimism. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Results

We found a relationship between a generalized PTS response and each of the PTS symptom categories. Experiencing community violence was significantly related to generalized PTS response over and above other traumatic events.

Conclusion

Young adults who experience community violence have a general distress response to those experiences, and yet, beyond that general response, there are ways in which each symptom is distinct from a generalized distress reaction.
Anatomy and histology of reproductive system of adult male mint leaf beetle Chrysolina herbacea (Duftschmid, 1825) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Özyurt Koçakoğlu Nurcan , Candan Selami , Güllü Mustafa
Published: September 2020

In this study, anatomy and histology of the male reproductive system of Chrysolina herbacea (Duftschmid 1825) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are described and illustrated by using light and scanning electron microscopies. Data from the male gonad of this species provide more extended and precise knowledge regarding the histoanatomical structure of the reproductive system in Chrysomelidae. The male reproductive system in C. herbacea consists of paired bilobed testes, two paired vas efferentia, paired seminal vesicles, paired vas deferentia, paired tubular accessory glands, a ductus ejaculatorius, and an aedeagus. Each testis consists of 40 follicles enveloped in a yellow pigmented sheath. In the light and scanning electron microscope examinations of male reproductive system of C. herbacea, different spermatogenesis stages (spermatocytes, spermatids, and spermatozoa) are found. Each testes follicle joins with the vas efferens surrounded by monolayered cubic epithelium with oval nuclei. Epithelial cells are covered from the outside with a thin layer of muscle and sheath. Vas efferens connect to vas deferens that may have an enlarged and differentiated region = seminal vesicle. Mature spermatozoa are seen in the lumen of the vas efferens, seminal vesicle, and vas deferens. There is a pair of accessory glands with a convoluted appearance in the tubular structure around the vas deferens. The vas deferens is a straight tube which leads into the proximal end of the ductus ejaculatorius. Ductus ejaculatorius wall is surrounded by intima, monolayer epithelium, and a thick muscle layer with many nuclei. The distal section of the ductus ejaculatorius is housed within the aedeagus.
Collecting Data During an Epidemic: A Novel Mobile Phone Research Method
Authors: Maffioli Elisa M.
Published: September 2020

This study developed a data collection method, combining (i) random‐digit dialling and interactive voice response to sample and screen respondents and (ii) computer‐assisted telephone interviewing, to survey 2265 respondents during the 2014 Ebola epidemic. The response, cooperation, refusal and contact rates computed according to the American Association for Public Opinion Research were 51.97, 52.62, 41.85 and 98.77 per cent, for interactive voice response and 91.10, 91.65, 8.30 and 99.40 per cent for computer‐assisted telephone interviewing. A comparison with Demographic and Health Surveys confirmed that the sample is not nationally representative. However, this method offers promise for data collection at a low cost ($24) and without any in‐person interaction. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modulation of phagocytosis-induced cell death of human neutrophils by Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Authors: Cho Christine , Teghanemt Athmane , Apicella Michael A , Nauseef William M
Published: September 2020

Optimal innate immune response to infection includes eradication of potential pathogens, resolution of associated inflammation, and restitution of homeostasis. Phagocytosing human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (hPMN) undergo accelerated apoptosis, a process referred to as phagocytosis-induced cell death (PICD) and an early step in their clearance from inflammatory sites. Among human pathogens that modulate hPMN apoptosis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae delays PICD, which may contribute to the exuberant neutrophilic inflammation that characterizes gonorrhea. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying delayed PICD, we compared features of hPMN cell death that followed phagocytosis of N. gonorrhoeae FA1090 wild-type (GC) or serum-opsonized zymosan (OPZ), a prototypical stimulus of PICD. Phosphatidylserine externalization required NADPH oxidase activity after ingestion of GC or OPZ, and annexin V staining and DNA fragmentation were less after phagocytosis of GC compared to OPZ. Caspase 3/7 and caspase 9 activities after phagocytosis of GC were less than that seen after ingestion of OPZ, but caspase 8 activity was the same after ingestion of GC or OPZ. When hPMN sequentially ingested GC followed by OPZ, both caspase 3/7 and 9 activities were less than that seen after OPZ alone, and the inhibition was dose dependent for GC, suggesting that ingestion of GC actively inhibited PICD. Sequential phagocytosis did not block caspase 8 activity, mitochondrial depolarization, or annexin V/propidium iodide staining compared to responses of hPMN fed OPZ alone, despite inhibition of caspases 3/7 and 9. Taken together, these data suggest that active inhibition of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis contributes to the delay in PICD after hPMN ingestion of N. gonorrhoeae.