bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution of the microstructure of unconsolidated geopolymers by thermoporometry
Authors: Nguyen Quang Hung , Hanafi Mohamed , Merkl Jan‐Philip , d'Espinose de Lacaillerie Jean‐Baptiste
Published: October 2020

This paper studies the evolution of the pore size distribution of a fresh unconsolidated geopolymer paste between one day and a week, using thermoporometry. This was made possible by following a careful protocol for sample preparation and for analysis by differential scanning calorimetry. In contrast with nitrogen gas adsorption, this method quantifies directly the amount of water in pores. It also does not require heat and vacuum drying, thus maintaining the fragile pore structure of the unconsolidated paste. Moreover, it was found that, in a typical metakaolin‐based sodium geopolymer with a 10 to 20 hours workability period, the porosity gradually refines during the first week while the mesoporous volume is cut in half. This is probably due to the fact that the geopolymer network was still actively condensing from the activation solution. Part of the pore water never froze and, from mass balance, this residual water was attributed to the water bound in the hydration shell of the sodium counter ions. Only a minor occurrence of covalently bound protons as silanol groups was observed. The results presented here usefully complement data obtained by conventional techniques at later ages on consolidated geopolymers. It supports the growing body of literature on the structural evolution of geopolymers with time.
Behavioural intervention to reduce disruptive behaviours in adult day care centres users: A randomizsed clinical trial (PROCENDIAS study)
Authors: Tamayo‐Morales Olaya , Patino‐Alonso María C. , Losada Andrés , Mora‐Simón Sara , Unzueta‐Arce Jaime , González‐Sánchez Susana , Gómez‐Marcos Manuel A. , García‐Ortiz Luis , Rodríguez‐Sánchez Emiliano
Published: October 2020

Aim

This study assesses the effect of an intervention to reduce the disruptive behaviours (DB) presented by care recipient users of adult day care centres (ADCC), thereby reducing caregiver overload. While ADCC offer beneficial respite for family caregivers, the DB that many care recipients show promote resistance to attending these centres, which can be a great burden on their family caregivers.

Design

Randomized controlled clinical trial.

Methods

The study was carried out with 130 family caregivers of people attending seven ADCC in the municipality of Salamanca (Spain), randomly distributed into intervention and control groups. The intervention was applied across eight sessions, one per week, in groups of 8–10 people where caregivers were trained in the Antecedent‐Behavior‐Consequence (ABC) model of functional behaviour analysis. The primary outcome was the reduction of DB measured with the Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist (RMBPC).

Results

An average reduction in the RMBPC of 4.34 points was obtained in the intervention group after applying the intervention (p < 0.01 (U de Mann–Whitney); Cohen d = 1.00); furthermore, differences were found in the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D) (U = −2.67; p = 0.008; Cohen d = 0.50) and in the Short Zarit Burden Interview (Short ZBI) (t = −4.10; p < 0.01; Cohen d = 0.98).

Conclusion

The results obtained suggest that the implementation of this intervention could reduce both the frequency of DB occurrence and the reaction of the caregiver to their appearance. Improvement was also noted in the results regarding overload and emotional state of the family caregiver.

Impact

To our knowledge, this is the first randomized clinical trial to show that an intervention based on the ABC model could reduce the frequency and reaction of DB of care recipients in ADCC increasing their quality of life, and improving the mental health and overload of their family caregivers.
Identification of novel susceptibility loci for non‐syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate
Authors: Ma Lan , Lou Shu , Miao Ziyue , Yao Siyue , Yu Xin , Kan Shiyi , Zhu Guirong , Yang Fan , Zhang Chi , Zhang Weibing , Wang Meilin , Wang Lin , Pan Yongchu
Published: October 2020

Although several genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) of non‐syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) have been reported, more novel association signals are remained to be exploited. Here, we performed an in‐depth analysis of our previously published Chinese GWAS cohort study with replication in an extra dbGaP case‐parent trios and another in‐house Nanjing cohort, and finally identified five novel significant association signals (rs11119445: 3’ of SERTAD4, P = 6.44 × 10−14; rs227227 and rs12561877: intron of SYT14, P = 5.02 × 10−13 and 2.80 × 10−11, respectively; rs643118: intron of TRAF3IP3, P = 4.45 × 10−6; rs2095293: intron of NR6A1, P = 2.98 × 10−5). The mean (standard deviation) of the weighted genetic risk score (wGRS) from these SNPs was 1.83 (0.65) for NSCL/P cases and 1.58 (0.68) for controls, respectively (P = 2.67 × 10−16). Rs643118 was identified as a shared susceptible factor of NSCL/P among Asians and Europeans, while rs227227 may contribute to the risk of NSCL/P as well as NSCPO. In addition, sertad4 knockdown zebrafish models resulted in down‐regulation of sox2 and caused oedema around the heart and mandibular deficiency, compared with control embryos. Taken together, this study has improved our understanding of the genetic susceptibility to NSCL/P and provided further clues to its aetiology in the Chinese population.
Contributions of PARP‐1 rs1136410 C>T polymorphism to the development of cancer
Authors: Li Hunian , Zha Yongjiu , Du Fang , Liu Jie , Li Xiaoquan , Zhao Xu
Published: October 2020

Poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase‐1 (PARP‐1) is a nuclear chromatin‐associated enzyme involved in the DNA damage response. SNP rs1136410 C>T, the most studied polymorphism in PARP‐1 gene, is highly implicated in the susceptibility of cancer. However, the roles of PARP‐1 rs1136410 C>T on cancer risk vary from different studies. We comprehensively screened all qualified publications from several databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CNKI and Wanfang. The searching was updated to April 2020. Our meta‐analysis included 60 articles with 65 studies, comprised of a total of 23 996 cases with cancer and 33 015 controls. Overall, pooled data showed that the PARP‐1 rs1136410 C>T polymorphism was significantly but a border‐line associated with an increased risk of overall cancer (CC vs. TT/TC: OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.00‐1.24; C vs T: OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.01‐1.14). Subgroup analysis indicated that rs1136410 C allele contributed to high risk among gastric, thyroid, and cervical cancer, but lower risk among brain cancer. Furthermore, increased cancer risk was detected in the subgroups of Asian, controls from population‐based design studies, and HWE ≤ 0.05 studies. Sensitivity analysis and Egger's test showed that results of the meta‐analysis were fairly stable. The current study indicated that PARP1 rs1136410 C>T polymorphism may have an impact on certain types of cancer susceptibility.
Acetate: Friend or foe against breast tumour growth in the context of obesity?
Authors: Yelek Caner , Mignion Lionel , Joudiou Nicolas , Terrasi Romano , Gourgue Florian , Van Hul Matthias , Delzenne Nathalie , Gallez Bernard , Corbet Cyril , Muccioli Giulio G. , Feron Olivier , Cani Patrice D. , Jordan Bénédicte F.
Published: October 2020

Acetate is reported as a regulator of fat mass but also as lipogenic source for cancer cells. Breast cancer is surrounded by adipose tissue and has been associated with obesity. However, whether acetate contributes to cancer cell metabolism as lipogenic substrate and/or by changing fat storage and eventually obesity‐induced breast cancer progression remains unknown. Therefore, we studied the contribution of acetate to breast cancer metabolism and progression. In vitro, we found that acetate is not a bioenergetic substrate under normoxia and did not result in a significant change of growth. However, by using lipidomic approaches, we discovered that acetate changes the lipid profiles of the cells under hypoxia. Moreover, while mice fed a high‐fat diet (HFD) developed bigger tumours than their lean counterparts, exogenous acetate supplementation leads to a complete abolishment of fat mass gain without reverting the HFD‐induced obesity‐driven tumour progression. In conclusion, although acetate protects against diet‐induced obesity, our data suggest that it is not affecting HFD‐driven tumour progression.
Commentary: Thinking flexibly about mental health and autism – a commentary on Ozsivadjian et al. (2020)
Authors: Rodgers Jacqui , South Mikle
Published: October 2020

Research on mental health in autism has quite rightly flourished over the past fifteen years, and there is now clear evidence that autistic people are at heightened risk of experiencing mental health concerns. Recent research has shown that common mental health conditions may be experienced differently by autistic people, meaning that assessment and intervention techniques that were developed with and for neurotypical individuals are potentially less sensitive and effective for those on the spectrum. The upshot of this work is that we need to get better at all of these aspects of identification, support and intervention and that will only be possible with a clear understanding of the mechanisms of mental distress for autistic people. The work described in Ozsivadjian et al. (2020) makes a welcome addition to this literature. In this commentary, we explore the strengths and limitations of the work and consider its contribution to research and clinical practice in the field of autism and mental health.
The effect of cardiac rehabilitation program on functional capacity and waist to hip ratio in patients with coronary artery disease: A clinical trial
Authors: Sahabazi Deh Sokhteh Azam , Pishkar Zahra , Rafizadeh Omid , Yaghoubinia Fariba
Published: October 2020

Aims

This study aimed to determine the impact of cardiac rehabilitation programs on functional capacity and waist to hip ratio in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.

Methods

In this clinical trial study 70 CAD patients were selected using purposive sampling and based on inclusion criteria. The intervention consisted of a 12‐week training and exercise program included walking sessions at home at least three times a week. The 6‐min walk test (6MWT) was conducted to measure the functional capacity and waist to hip ratio (WHR), as the anthropometric index, in both groups before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed in SPSS 21 using independent t test, paired t test, and Chi‐square test.

Results

The mean distance traveled in the 6MWT was 297.30 m and 283.55 in intervention and control groups respectively before the intervention. After the intervention, this distance was 509.03 and 389.91 m in intervention and control groups respectively, suggesting a significant difference between the two groups (p < .001). The mean WHR was 0.8648 and 0.8403 in intervention and in control respectively before the intervention. After the intervention, this value became 0.7985 and 0.8555 in intervention and control groups respectively and showed significant difference (p < .001).

Conclusions

The cardiac rehabilitation program improved the ability of patients in the 6MWT and enhanced their functional capacity and reduced the mean WHR, which in turn evinces the improvement of the anthropometric index and mitigation of risk factors in CAD patients. So, healthcare providers can deploy such rehabilitation programs to empower patients, alleviate disease complications, and reduce individual and social costs of cardiovascular diseases.
Metabolic Predictors of High‐ vs. Low‐Oxytocin Requirements During Labor Induction
Authors: Carlson Nicole S. , Frediani Jennifer K. , Corwin Elizabeth J. , Dunlop Anne , Jones Dean
Published: October 2020

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in the metabolic pathways activated in late‐pregnancy serum samples among African American women who went on to have term (≥37 weeks) labor induction requiring high total oxytocin doses to complete first‐stage labor compared to those in similar women with low‐oxytocin labor inductions.

Methods

Case–control study (N  = 27 women with labor induction with successful cervical ripening: 13 requiring the highest total doses of synthetic oxytocin to progress from 4‐ to 10‐cm cervical dilation and 14 requiring the lowest total doses) with groups balanced on parity and gestational age. Serum samples obtained between 24 and 30 weeks’ gestation were analyzed using ultra‐high‐resolution metabolomics. Differentially expressed metabolites between high‐oxytocin induction cases and low‐oxytocin induction comparison subjects were evaluated using linear regression with xmsPANDA. Metabolic pathways analysis was conducted using Mummichog Version 2.0, with discriminating metabolites annotated using xMSannotator Version 1.3.

Results

Labor processes were similar by group with the exception that cases received over 6 times more oxytocin between 4‐ and 10‐cm cervical dilation than comparison women. Induction requiring high total doses of synthetic oxytocin was associated with late‐pregnancy serum levels of metabolites from the linoleate and fatty acid activation pathways in term, African American women.

Discussion

Serum levels of several lipid metabolites predicted more complicated labor induction involving higher doses of synthetic oxytocin to complete first‐stage labor. Further investigation in larger, more diverse cohorts of women is needed to identify potential targets to prevent failed labor induction.

Reprinted with permission. Carlson NS, Frediani JK, Corwin EJ, Dunlop A, Jones D., Metabolic pathways associated with term labor in African‐American women. Biol Res Nurs. 2020;22(2):157‐168.
Convergent pathological and ultrasound features in hereditary syndromic and non‐syndromic minifascicular neuropathy related to DHH
Authors: Boso Federica , Zanette Giampietro , Baldinotti Fulvia , Bertelloni Silvano , Taioli Federica , Monaco Salvatore , Fabrizi Gian Maria , Cavallaro Tiziana
Published: October 2020

Minifascicular neuropathy (MN) is a rare, autosomal recessive disease with prominent structural changes of peripheral nerves. So far, it has been observed in females with a 46,XY karyotype and mutations of the Desert Hedgehog (DHH) gene, thus linking MN to gonadal dysgenesis (GD) and disorders of sex development (DSD). However, a 46,XX proband with normal female sex and gender development underwent clinical evaluations, nerve conduction studies and genetic screening for a severe motor‐sensory neuropathy with a pathological phenotype that hinted at MN. Indeed, sural nerve biopsy revealed a profound disturbance of perineurium development with a thin and loose structure. High‐resolution ultrasound (HRUS) also disclosed diffuse changes of nerve echotexture that visibly correlated with the pathological features. After extensive genetic testing, a novel homozygous DHH null mutation (p.Ser185*) was identified in the proband and in her sister, who was affected by a similar motor‐sensory neuropathy, but was eventually found to be a 46,XY patient according to a late diagnosis of DSD with complete GD. DHH should therefore be considered as a possible cause of rare non‐syndromic hereditary motor‐sensory neuropathies, regardless of DSD. Furthermore, HRUS could effectively smooth the complex diagnostic workup as it demonstrated a high predictive power to detect MN, providing the same detailed correlations to the pathologic features of the nerve biopsy and Dhh−/− mice in both sisters. Hence, HRUS may assume a pivotal role in guiding molecular analysis in individuals with or without DSD.
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum overlaps hereditary spastic paraplegia type 56
Authors: Legrand A. , Pujol C. , Durand C. M. , Mesnil A. , Rubera I. , Duranton C. , Zuily S. , Sousa A. B. , Renaud M. , Boucher J. L. , Pietrancosta N. , Adham S. , Orssaud C. , Marelli C. , Casali C. , Ziccardi L. , Villain N. , Ewenczyk C. , Durr A. , Mignot C. , Stevanin G. , Billon C. , Hureaux M. , Jeunemaitre X. , Goizet C. , Albuisson J.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a recessive disorder involving skin, eyes and arteries, mainly caused by ABCC6 pathogenic variants. However, almost one fifth of patients remain genetically unsolved despite extensive genetic screening of ABCC6, as illustrated in a large French PXE series of 220 cases. We searched for new PXE gene(s) to solve the ABCC6‐negative patients.

Methods

First, family‐based exome sequencing was performed, in one ABCC6‐negative PXE patient with additional neurological features, and her relatives. CYP2U1, involved in hereditary spastic paraplegia type 56 (SPG56), was selected based on this complex phenotype, and the presence of two candidate variants. Second, CYP2U1 sequencing was performed in a retrospective series of 46 additional ABCC6‐negative PXE probands. Third, six additional SPG56 patients were evaluated for PXE skin and eye phenotype. Additionally, plasma pyrophosphate dosage and functional analyses were performed in some of these patients.

Results

6.4% of ABCC6‐negative PXE patients (n = 3) harboured biallelic pathogenic variants in CYP2U1. PXE skin lesions with histological confirmation, eye lesions including maculopathy or angioid streaks, and various neurological symptoms were present. CYP2U1 missense variants were confirmed to impair protein function. Plasma pyrophosphate levels were normal. Two SPG56 patients (33%) presented some phenotypic overlap with PXE.

Conclusion

CYP2U1 pathogenic variants are found in unsolved PXE patients with neurological findings, including spastic paraplegia, expanding the SPG56 phenotype and highlighting its overlap with PXE. The pathophysiology of ABCC6 and CYP2U1 should be explored to explain their respective role and potential interaction in ectopic mineralization.
Moderation of associations between interparental stress and (mal)adaptation by adolescents' personality: Contrasting differential susceptibility and diathesis–stress models
Authors: van Eldik Willemijn M. , de Haan Amaranta D. , Arends Lidia R. , Prinzie Peter
Published: October 2020

Objective

This study aimed to contrast differential susceptibility and diathesis–stress models in examining adolescents' Big Five personality dimensions as moderators of longitudinal associations between interparental stress and (mal)adaptation in emerging adulthood (i.e., self‐efficacy, externalizing and internalizing behavior).

Method

Data from the large longitudinal Flemish Study on Parenting, Personality and Development were used (475 families, adolescents' Mage = 15.82, SDage = 1.15), with both parents reporting on their interparental stress and mothers reporting on the adolescent's personality and in 2009, and emerging adults reporting on their own (mal)adaptive functioning in 2009 and 2015 and their personality in 2015.

Results

Multivariate models showed that extraversion, benevolence, emotional stability and imagination were uniquely related to (mal)adaptation across the 6‐year interval. In general, our results exhibited no consistent moderating role for adolescents' personality. Only for girls, high levels of extraversion functioned as a “susceptibility maker” in associations between father's interparental stress and self‐efficacy, and, low levels of emotional stability functioned as a “vulnerability marker” in associations between parents' interparental stress and self‐efficacy.

Conclusions

The interaction effects as well as their (restricted) generalizability across gender should be replicated before drawing firm conclusions. Adolescents' personality characteristics were important predictors of (mal)adaptation during the transition into emerging adulthood.
Thinking inside the box: Optimal policy towards a footloose R&D‐intensive firm
Authors: Dewit Gerda , Leahy Dermot
Published: October 2020

We derive the optimal policy mix of Research and Development (R&D)‐subsidies and corporate tax rates towards a footloose R&D‐intensive firm. Increasing R&D‐subsidies strengthens the firm's incentive to offshore production. The firm's home government can offset this by offering an appropriate corporate tax concession. The optimal policy package exhibits a “Matthew principle”: higher R&D‐subsidies should typically be accompanied by lower tax rates. However, if the R&D‐subsidy exceeds a crucial threshold, a tax concession can no longer prevent offshoring. We find that it is never optimal to raise tax rates as R&D‐subsidies increase.
Labor market regulation under self‐enforcing contracts
Authors: Avcioglu Sahin , Karabay Bilgehan
Published: October 2020

This paper examines the effects of various labor market institutions (policies) on the welfare of workers and employers. We consider self‐enforcing contracts between risk‐averse workers and risk‐neutral employers in a labor market with search frictions. Employers promise to smooth out shocks to wages while workers promise long‐term commitment to employers. In this environment, regulatory policies can make it easier or harder for employers to keep their promise of wage smoothing, thus influencing the benefit accruing to each party. In our approach, we analyze the joint effect of policies by distinguishing between the financing and spending of funds used in the regulation of the labor market. With regard to financing, layoff tax strictly dominates hiring and payroll taxes on efficiency grounds, whereas the relative ranking of hiring and payroll taxes depend on the type of equilibrium that realizes. On the spending side, while unemployment payment increases workers' welfare at the expense of employers, in‐work benefit in the form of a one‐off wage subsidy leaves workers' welfare intact but may increase the welfare of employers.
Household tax evasion
Authors: Hashimzade Nigar , Myles Gareth D. , Yousefi Hana
Published: October 2020

Household members share public goods and make intra‐household transfers. We show how these features of the household interact with the tax evasion decision, and identify the dimensions in which household evasion differs from individual evasion. In the model we present two members of a household choose how much to contribute to a household public good and how much self‐employment income to evade. We are interested in how different evasion possibilities interact with the contribution decisions to the household public good and the role of income transfers within the household. We show the household evasion decision differs from the individual decision because it affects the outcome of the household contribution game. When household members are taxed as individuals neutrality applies when choices are not constrained. If the evasion level of one household member is constrained then an income transfer can generate a Pareto improvement. When the household members are jointly taxed there is a couple constraint on strategies and corner solutions can emerge.
Public provisions of professional services
Authors: Szczygielski Krzysztof
Published: October 2020

Professional services are credence goods provided by certified experts (professionals). The most prominent examples of professional services are medical or legal services. Interestingly, the markets for such services are often subject to partial public provision: there is a low‐end segment, where the services of basic quality are provided for free and professionals are reimbursed by the government, and a high‐end segment, where free‐market principles prevail. We examine the efficiency of this market structure. To this end we apply a modified version of the model of the market for goods with credence attributes proposed by Baron. We demonstrate that partial public provision can correct for the market failure caused by the credence good nature of professional services, even in the presence of regulation costs. The efficiency gain from partial public provision is due to a combination of quality and price effects.
Giblets and abdominal fat of pomegranate seed oil fed chickens as a source of bioactive fatty acids
Authors: Białek Agnieszka , Białek Małgorzata , Czerwonka Małgorzata , Lepionka Tomasz , Tytz Natalia , Kucharczyk Karolina , Tober Elżbieta , Kaszperuk Karol , Banaszkiewicz Teresa
Published: October 2020

The aim of present study was to determine whether chickens’ (broilers Ross 308, n = 180, sex ratio 1:1) diet modification with different doses of grape or pomegranate seed oil will favourable change fatty acids and cholesterol content in selected giblets (liver and heart) or wastes (adipose tissue). It was also verify whether generated changes would make the giblets and wastes more valuable as dietary components or by‐products for food industry. From 22 to 42 day of life, five diets were administered to chickens. Control grower diet (CON) contained 5% of soy oil, whereas in the experimental grower diets part of soy oil (1.5% or 2%) was replaced with specific amount of grape or pomegranate seed oil (GRAP 1.5; GRAP 2.0; POM 1.5; POM 2.0 respectively). Fatty acids and cholesterol content were determined with gas chromatography with flame‐ionization detection. Pomegranate seed oil improved fatty acids profile more favourably than grape seed oil, which makes it a valuable additive in chickens’ feeding. Abdominal fat of pomegranate seed oil supplemented chickens appeared to be the richest sources of rumenic acid and n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which allows to suggest its use in manufacturing of meat products to obtain foodstuffs rich in those essential nutrients. In principal component analysis (PCA), two principal components: PC1 and PC2, which were enough to explain 29.91% of variance of initial variables, allowed to a good separation of chickens fed with both doses of pomegranate seed oil from animals from control and grape seed oil fed groups. Because poultry addresses all nutritional, institutional and consumer requirements, enrichment of giblets in rumenic acid by pomegranate seed oil incorporation into chickens’ diet may provide a valuable dietary source of bioactive fatty acids for consumers, especially of low‐income countries.
Stress in client‐owned dogs related to clinical exam location: a randomised crossover trial
Authors: Mandese W. W. , Griffin F. C. , Reynolds P. S. , Blew A. C. , Deriberprey A. S. , Estrada A. H.
Published: October 2020

Objectives

To quantify the effects of wellness examinations conducted in the common treatment area on fear, anxiety and stress indicators in client‐owned dogs.

Materials and Methods

The study was a prospective, non‐blinded, randomised, two‐period two‐treatment crossover trial. Client‐owned healthy adult dogs presenting for wellness or dental evaluations at a single veterinary teaching hospital received three consecutive rapid assessment exams; a baseline exam (owner present), followed by two identical physical exams differing in location and presented in random order (isolated exam room with owner present versus common treatment area, owner absent). Primary endpoints were a cumulative fear, anxiety and stress score for five standardised behaviours and heart rate (bpm) measured for each exam.

Results

Forty‐four dogs were enrolled. Modal fear, anxiety and stress score at baseline was 1 of 5, indicating none to mild stress. Both fear, anxiety and stress and heart rates measured in the common treatment area were clinically elevated relative to assessments conducted in the exam room. Relative to baseline, animals examined in the common treatment area showed increased fear, anxiety and stress (+2.6 units, se 0.5; P<0.0001) and heart rate (20 bpm, 95% confidence interval 13, 28; P<0.0001. Twenty‐eight dogs (64%) exhibited fear, anxiety and stress scores ≥3 of 5 (moderate to severe stress) in the common treatment area, compared to 19 (43%) during exam room assessments.

Clinical Significance

Stress assessments in this study may have been biased by inability to blind assessors to location. However, stress metrics showed clinically significant, consistent and directionally symmetrical increases when dogs were examined in the common treatment area. When physical exam locations are highly stimulating, dogs may experience increased stress and anxiety, with detrimental effects on clinical assessments and behavioural welfare. Whenever possible, physical exams and procedures should take place in low‐stress environments with the owner present.
The fall, recovery, classification, and initial characterization of the Hamburg, Michigan H4 chondrite
Authors: Heck Philipp R. , Greer Jennika , Boesenberg Joseph S. , Bouvier Audrey , Caffee Marc W. , Cassata William S. , Corrigan Catherine , Davis Andrew M. , Davis Donald W. , Fries Marc , Hankey Mike , Jenniskens Peter , Schmitt‐Kopplin Philippe , Sheu Shannon , Trappitsch Reto , Velbel Michael , Weller Brandon , Welten Kees , Yin Qing‐Zhu , Sanborn Matthew E. , Ziegler Karen , Rowland Douglas , Verosub Kenneth L. , Zhou Qin , Liu Yu , Tang Guoqiang , Li Qiuli , Li Xianhua , Zajacz Zoltan
Published: October 2020

The Hamburg meteorite fell on January 16, 2018, near Hamburg, Michigan, after a fireball event widely observed in the U.S. Midwest and in Ontario, Canada. Several fragments fell onto frozen surfaces of lakes and, thanks to weather radar data, were recovered days after the fall. The studied rock fragments show no or little signs of terrestrial weathering. Here, we present the initial results from an international consortium study to describe the fall, characterize the meteorite, and probe the collision history of Hamburg. About 1 kg of recovered meteorites was initially reported. Petrology, mineral chemistry, trace element and organic chemistry, and O and Cr isotopic compositions are characteristic of H4 chondrites. Cosmic ray exposure ages based on cosmogenic 3He, 21Ne, and 38Ar are ~12 Ma, and roughly agree with each other. Noble gas data as well as the cosmogenic 10Be concentration point to a small 40–60 cm diameter meteoroid. An 40Ar‐39Ar age of 4532 ± 24 Ma indicates no major impact event occurring later in its evolutionary history, consistent with data of other H4 chondrites. Microanalyses of phosphates with LA‐ICPMS give an average Pb‐Pb age of 4549 ± 36 Ma. This is in good agreement with the average SIMS Pb‐Pb phosphate age of 4535.3 ± 9.5 Ma and U‐Pb Concordia age of 4535 ± 10 Ma. The weighted average age of 4541.6 ± 9.5 Ma reflects the metamorphic phosphate crystallization age after parent body formation in the early solar system.
Gene expression remodelling and immune response during adaptive divergence in an African cichlid fish
Authors: Rajkov Jelena , El Taher Athimed , Böhne Astrid , Salzburger Walter , Egger Bernd
Published: October 2020

Variation in gene expression contributes to ecological speciation by facilitating population persistence in novel environments. Likewise, immune responses can be of relevance in speciation driven by adaptation to different environments. Previous studies examining gene expression differences between recently diverged ecotypes have often relied on only one pair of populations, targeted the expression of only a subset of genes or used wild‐caught individuals. Here, we investigated the contribution of habitat‐specific parasites and symbionts and the underlying immunological abilities of ecotype hosts to adaptive divergence in lake–river population pairs of the cichlid fishAstatotilapia burtoni. To shed light on the role of phenotypic plasticity in adaptive divergence, we compared parasite and microbiota communities, immune response, and gene expression patterns of fish from natural habitats and a lake‐like pond set‐up. In all investigated population pairs, lake fish were more heavily parasitized than river fish, in terms of both parasite taxon composition and infection abundance. The innate immune response in the wild was higher in lake than in river populations and was elevated in a river population exposed to lake parasites in the pond set‐up. Environmental differences between lake and river habitat and their distinct parasite communities have shaped differential gene expression, involving genes functioning in osmoregulation and immune response. Most changes in gene expression between lake and river samples in the wild and in the pond set‐up were based on a plastic response. Finally, gene expression and bacterial communities of wild‐caught individuals and individuals acclimatized to lake‐like pond conditions showed shifts underlying adaptive phenotypic plasticity.
Habitat specialisation controls ectomycorrhizal fungi above the treeline in the European Alps
Authors: Arraiano‐Castilho Ricardo , Bidartondo Martin I. , Niskanen Tuula , Clarkson James J. , Brunner Ivano , Zimmermann Stephan , Senn‐Irlet Beatrice , Frey Beat , Peintner Ursula , Mrak Tanja , Suz Laura M.
Published: October 2020

Alpine habitats are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to environmental change, however, little information is known about the drivers of plant–fungal interactions in these ecosystems and their resilience to climate change.

We investigated the influence of the main drivers of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal communities along elevation and environmental gradients in the alpine zone of the European Alps and measured their degree of specialisation using network analysis. We sampled ectomycorrhizas ofDryas octopetala,Bistorta viviparaandSalix herbacea, and soil fungal communities at 28 locations across five countries, from the treeline to the nival zone.

We found that: (1) EM fungal community composition, but not richness, changes along elevation, (2) there is no strong evidence of host specialisation, however, EM fungal networks in the alpine zone and within these, EM fungi associated with snowbed communities, are more specialised than in other alpine habitats, (3) plant host population structure does not influence EM fungal communities, and (4) most variability in EM fungal communities is explained by fine‐scale changes in edaphic properties, like soil pH and total nitrogen.

The higher specialisation and narrower ecological niches of these plant–fungal interactions in snowbed habitats make these habitats particularly vulnerable to environmental change in alpine ecosystems.
Kenneth Cumberland on historical geography at the first New Zealand Geography Conference in 1955
Authors: Roche Michael
Published: October 2020

Professor Kenneth Cumberland's presidential address at the first New Zealand geography conference in 1955 considered the achievements, aims and objectives of the discipline, which he positioned as a chorological science. This view of geography posed difficulties for the scope of historical geography, one of Cumberland's main areas of research. He addressed this problem in a second conference presentation, which has remained unpublished. This unpublished hitherto “lost manuscript” has been located and is examined with an eye to Cumberland's role as a disciplinary gatekeeper and boundary rider of New Zealand geography in the 1950s.
GPD1L is negatively associated with HIF1α expression and predicts lymph node metastasis in oral and HPV‐ Oropharyngeal cancer
Authors: Liu Huan , Wang Shu , Cheng Aoming , Han Zhengxue , Feng Zhien , Guo Chuanbin
Published: October 2020

Objective

The study is to determine if Glycerol‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase 1‐like (GPD1L) and hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF1α) can identify high‐risk patients with delayed lymph node metastasis in early‐stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Materials and methods

The mRNA and protein expressions of markers were analyzed using fresh and paraffin embedded HNSCC specimens. The statistical analyses included chi‐squared test, t test, correlation analysis, and univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

GPD1L (downregulated) and HIF1α (upregulated) mRNA expression had a negative correlation (r = −.496, p = .001) in cT1‐2N0 HNSCC. The low GPD1L + high HIF1α expression group (22.6%) showed a significant decrease in disease‐free survival compared with the high GPD1L + low HIF1α expression group (71.4%) in the neck dissection group. The low GPD1L + high HIF1α expression (39.4%) resulted in a significantly higher delayed metastasis rate than the high GPD1L + low HIF1α expression (5.6%) for cT1‐2N0 HNSCC in the neck observation group. GPD1L and HIF1α protein expression more accurately predicted lymph node metastasis than the WINTER hypoxia gene panel (false‐negative rate in predicting metastasis: 8.1% versus 26.4%). Cox regression analyses found that the combined protein expression of GPD1L and HIF1α could predict delayed metastasis (HR:0.118, 95% CI:0.027–0.525).

Conclusions

Low GPD1L + high HIF1α expression can serve as candidate biomarkers for high‐risk populations with lymph node metastases in early‐stage HNSCC.
Self and mental disorder: Lessons for psychiatry from naturalistic philosophy
Authors: Tekin Şerife
Published: October 2020

The question “What is the relationship between the self and mental disorder?” is especially important for mental health professionals interested in understanding and treating patients, as most mental disorders are intimately tied to self‐related concerns, such as loss of self‐esteem and self‐control, or diminished agency and autonomy. Philosophy, along with the cognitive and behavioral sciences, offers a wealth of conceptual and empirical resources to answer this question, as the concepts of the self and psychopathology have occupied a central place in these fields since their inception. Interestingly, and unfortunately, however, scientific psychiatry, in its approach to mental disorder as primarily a cluster of signs and symptoms has been slow in acknowledging the advances in conceptualizing and investigating mental disorders in relation to the self. The article addresses this problem and offers solutions for better cross‐fertilization between empirical and philosophical inquiry into the self and psychiatric research on mental disorders. The first part evaluates what empirically informed philosophical inquiry and philosophically informed empirical inquiry offer to the examination of the relationship between the self and mental disorders. The second part argues that scientific psychiatry has missed opportunities to find effective treatments for mental disorders because of its insularity from debates in naturalistic philosophy and cognitive and behavioral sciences. Psychiatry has much to gain from the conceptual, scientific, and clinical resourcefulness of philosophy's collaboration with the cognitive and behavioral sciences.
How Social‐Class Background Influences Perceptions of Political Leaders
Authors: Hoyt Crystal L. , DeShields Brenten H.
Published: October 2020

In this research, we contribute to a nascent literature examining how cues to social class can guide voters' political judgments. Drawing upon and merging a voting‐cues framework with the stereotype‐content model, we test predictions that, relative to those from high‐class backgrounds, candidates from lower‐ and working‐class backgrounds will be perceived to be more ideologically liberal, warmer, and will be evaluated more positively. We test these predictions across four experimental studies (NStudy1 = 200; NStudy2 = 537; NStudy3 = 352; NStudy4 = 654) employing a candidate‐evaluation paradigm; participants were presented with basic candidate background information, including cues to candidate class and other demographics, and were asked to read an excerpt from a speech before providing their judgments. Findings reveal that candidates from lower‐ and working‐class backgrounds were perceived to be more liberal and warmer than those from high‐class backgrounds. Additionally, we found that lower‐class candidates were generally evaluated more positively than high‐class candidates, and we found some evidence for evaluations across class to be moderated by participants' political ideology. These effects generally held across candidate gender and race. This work has important theoretical and practical implications offering insight into the social‐class gap between the electorate and the largely elite elected policymakers.
A prospective randomized open‐label trial on the comparative effects of 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 versus polyionic isotonic crystalloids on coagulation parameters in dogs with spontaneous hemoperitoneum
Authors: Iannucci Claudia , Dirkmann Daniel , Howard Judith , Adamik Katja N.
Published: October 2020

Objective

To evaluate the effects of 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 (HES) and a polyionic isotonic crystalloid (CRYS) on standard coagulation tests and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) in dogs with spontaneous hemoperitoneum (SHP).

Design

Prospective randomized open‐label clinical study.

Setting

University teaching hospital.

Animals

Forty‐two client‐owned dogs presented with SHP.

Interventions

Dogs diagnosed with SHP and hypovolemic shock were randomly allocated to receive HES (10 mL/kg, n = 22) or CRYS (30 mL/kg, n = 20) intravenously over 20 minutes for hemodynamic stabilization.

Measurements and main results

Parameters measured before (T0) and after (T1) treatment were HCT, platelet counts, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen concentrations, and extrinsic activated (EXTEM), intrinsic activated (INTEM), and extrinsic activated with platelet inhibition ROTEM assays. Data were analyzed as absolute values and as the percentage change from T0 to T1. No significant differences between groups were detected in any variable at T0, and for HCT, platelet counts, prothrombin time, activated thromboplastin time, and fibrinogen concentrations at T1. Clot formation time in EXTEM was significantly prolonged (P = 0.037), and maximum clot firmness was significantly decreased (P = 0.038) in the HES group compared to the CRYS group at T1. The percentage change in EXTEM clotting time (P = 0.012) and INTEM clot formation time (P = 0.031) was greater after HES than CRYS. Lysis indices remained at 100% for all ROTEM assays in both groups.

Conclusion

Compared to a 3‐fold volume of CRYS, administration of HES was associated with impairment in ROTEM parameters in dogs with SHP, but no evidence of hyperfibrinolysis was detected.
Ecology, distribution and control of the invasive weed Nassella trichotoma (Nees) Hack. ex Arechav.: A global review of current and future challenges
Authors: Humphries Talia , Dowling Kim , Turville Christopher , Sinclair Steve , Florentine Singarayer
Published: October 2020

Nassella trichotoma (serrated tussock) is a highly invasive perennial C3 weed from South America. It grows in most soil conditions, can resist fire and frost, and is unpalatable to grazing animals. Each plant can produce up to 140,000 seeds annually, and together, these characteristics make it a damaging landscape weed. It has diminished the agricultural carrying capacity of pastures in south‐eastern Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and emerging populations have now been identified in Europe and the United States, and bioclimatic models suggest its distribution could significantly expand within these regions in the near future. Research into control methods for this weed has been explored, and these include herbicides applied alone and in combination, the establishment of plant competition, the introduction of seed mitigation fencing, grazing management and exclusion zones, specific biological management and alteration of soil composition. Currently, the most effective and widely used control method is the residual herbicide flupropanate (2,2,3,3‐tetrafluoropropanoic acid). This review will investigate the ecology, distribution, current control techniques and past research on this species, and make recommendations for future research and management.
MONTMORILLONITE SURFACE AS A CATALYST FOR THE FORMATION OF SAT METAL TETRA (P-SULPHOPHENYL) PORPHYRINS
Authors: Hassen Jasim Hamadi , Silver Jack
Published: October 2020

The adsorption of the water-soluble tetra(p-sulphophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS) compound on Fe(II), Fe(III), Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Sn(IV) and UO22+ metal ion-exchanged montmorillonite (MMT) facilitated the formation of the SAT metal-TPPS MMT complexes of these cations (where SAT indicates sitting atop, ie the metal is above the porphyrin plane and is bound to external ligands in this case the MMT surface). All the resulting powder samples have a brown-orange colour due to the presence of the metal-TPPS-MMT complexes of these cations. Heating the solid powder samples caused demetallation and changed the colour of the powder from brown-orange colour of the metal-TPPS-MMT complex to the green colour of the diacid porphyrin on the clay. When such samples were exposed to the open atmosphere where they could absorb water vapour, the brown-orange colour appeared again due to the remetallation. The cation remained in the vicinity of the TPPS molecule upon demetallation, which makes the metallation-demetallation process reversible. The TPPS has been found to be adsorbed only on the external surface, and can be intercalated using sodium ions in solution with the compound to open the clay lattice. The reactions were monitored using visible absorption spectra, diffuse reflectance spectra, Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.
ENTRAPMENT OF FREE CELLS WITHIN ELECTROSPUN NANOFIBERS: MINI REVIEW ON PARAMETERS INFLUENCING NANOFIBERS CHARACTERISTICS AND CELLS VIABILITY
Authors: Azaddin Aiman Farhana , A. Rahman Roshanida , Jusoh Mazura , Jaafar Juhana , Ngadi Norzita , Abdul Manas Nor Hasmaliana
Published: October 2020

Nanotechnology is a growing technology that has been recognized as vital and scientific with bioprocess development especially in dealing with usage of free cells. Limitations such as low bioavailability, storage instability and low substrate inhibition bound the application of free cells in various field thus leading researchers into focusing more on free cells immobilization system. With the increasing knowledge in nanomaterials fabrication techniques, the immobilization of free cells through entrapment approach in highly porous and the high surface area of nanofibers is becoming an interesting subject to be highlighted. The production of free cells entrapped in nanofibers via electrospinning in terms of quality and quantity is highly affected by the electrospinning operating parameters including solution formulation, ambient conditions, operating conditions of electrospinning machine and types of materials used. Hence, this review paper will provide an overview of the operating conditions involved in electrospinning of cells through entrapment process which affect the characteristics of the electrospun nanofibers produced and the viability or growth of cells when entrapped in the electrospun nanofibers mats.
A VERY LOW-DROPOUT VOLTAGE REGULATOR IN 0.18-M CMOS TECHNOLOGY FOR POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Authors: Zainol Murad Sohiful Anuar , Harun Azizi , Md Isa Mohd Nazrin , Mohyar Saiful Nizam , Karim Jamilah
Published: October 2020

This paper proposes the design of a very low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator in 0.18-mm CMOS technology. The proposed LDO regulator consists of voltage reference, symmetrical operational transconductance amplifier (OTA), PMOS transistor, resistive feedback network and output capacitor. The NMOS symmetrical OTA is implemented as an error amplifier and a PMOS transistor is employed as a pass device to improve gain and minimize low dropout voltage, respectively. The proposed design is simulated using Spectre simulator in Cadence software to verify its regulator performance. The simulation results show that the proposed LDO is capable to operate from a supply voltage of 1.7-2.0 V with a low dropout voltage of 19.3 mV at a maximum 50 mA load current to regulate output voltage 1.5 V. The active chip is 2.96 mm2 in size. The performance of the proposed LDO is suitable to enhance power management for system on chip (SoC) applications.