bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geochemical, textural, mineralogical and micropaleontological data used for climatic reconstruction during the Holocene in the Galician sector of the Iberian continental margin
Authors: Martins V , Rocha F , Gomes C , Gomes V , Jouanneau J , Weber O , Dias J
Published: August 2017

In the present study, Al, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Cd concentrations were determined in the sediments of the KSGX 40 core collected from the Galicia muddy patch (NW Iberian continental shelf). The results were integrated together with textural, mineralogical and micropaleontological (foraminifera) data in order to determine the possible climatic influence on the type of sedimentation that took place in the muddy patch. The geochemical data of the KSGX 40 core suggest that sediment composition and texture were significantly influenced, over the last 5.2 kyr, by the Holocene sea transgression and by climatic oscillations consisting of both relatively temperate/cold periods and relatively warm/wet periods.
Advanced optical technologies for monitoring estuaries and coastal environments
Authors: Pereira D , Frazao O , Ferreira J , Dias I , Dias JM , Teixeira M , Vaz N , Quintela A , Lopes JF , Santos JL
Published: August 2017

In recent years the need to monitor different parameters has led to the development of several architectures able to make real time, un-attended measurements. Particularly in regard to environmental issues, it is very important that the equipment and measuring systems be small and light to avoid maximum interference of the ecosystems studied. In this context, optical fibre sensors have become extremely attractive for use in natural environments to monitor different parameters of biological interest, due to their intrinsic small weight and size and low reactivity to chemical and biological parameters. In this paper we present an innovative and technologically advanced system for the simultaneous measurement of temperature and salinity based on optical fibre Bragg grating sensors and on an optical sensing cable especially designed for large-scale and distributed or quasi-distributed measurements. A prototype of this optical cable was installed in the Mira Channel at Ria de Aveiro, Portugal. Temperature variation during three weeks from 4 to 23 June 2002 is investigated and presented here.
Net autotrophy and heterotrophy in the Pontevedra Ria upwelling system (NW Iberian margin)
Authors: Dale AW , Prego R
Published: August 2017

A non-stationary state mass balance of the type advocated by the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme/Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone (IGBP/LOICZ) has been used to assess net ecosystem metabolism in the Pontevedra Ria (NW Spain), a large embayment subject to transient upwelling of Eastern North Atlantic Central Water (ENACW) under favourable meteorological conditions. Nitrate (NO3–) and phosphate (PO43–) data spanning 12 months were resolved at the oceanic boundary by treating the ria as a single box of constant volume. The nutrient budget was scaled up to an estimate of net community production (NCP) using the compositional relationship of local phytoplankton. The mean annual NCP predicted by the NO3– balance was 24.0 mgC m–2 h–1, and 35.8 mgC m–2 h–1 by the PO43– budget. Nutrient fluxes into the reservoir were strongly driven by the incoming oceanic flow throughout the year, which supplied 88% and 98% of the total NO3– and PO43– load, respectively. A high NCP (NO3–) of 57.2 mgC m–2 h–1 was calculated for the height of the growth season contemporaneous with ENACW intrusion, whereas a slightly higher value of 61.4 mgC m–2 h–1 corresponded to PO43–. Nutrient limitation was variable throughout the sampling, switching from PO43– to NO3– from winter to spring concurrent with a drop in riverine PO43– input. Scaling the inorganic nutrients to carbon units, the Pontevedra Ria may be considered as net autotrophic, although the NO3– budget suggests alternation between autotrophy and heterotrophy over an annual cycle.
Distribution of organic pollutants in coastal sediments of Cádiz Bay (SW Spain)
Authors: Lara-Martín PA , Gómez-Parra A , Petrovic M , Barceló D , González-Mazo E
Published: August 2017

Concentrations of surfactants and persistent organic pollutants have been determined in coastal marine sediments (Cádiz Bay, SW Spain) from two areas affected by different contamination sources and levels: a tidal channel (Sancti Petri Channel) subjected to the discharge of untreated urban effluents, and an estuarine zone (Guadalete River) subjected to the occasional discharge of effluents from agriculture and from an urban and industrial wastewater treatment plant. Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPEOs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorinated pesticides were determined by an analytical procedure based on the use of an accelerated solvent extraction unit, a preconcentration and cleaning stage using solid phase extraction, and later quantification by LC/MS and GC/MS. In general, the highest concentrations were found in surface sediments near the untreated urban effluent, with levels above 80 mg kg–1 for LAS, 200 µg kg–1 for PAHs, and 10 and 50 µg kg–1 for PCBs and DDT, respectively. Also observed was a decrease in the concentrations of the compounds with the depth of the sediment, with the exception of PAHs and PCBs, which show a maximum at 25–30 cm. In the area subjected to agricultural and wastewater treatment plant effluents, high levels of NPEOs (122 mg kg–1) and DDT (63 mg kg–1) were recorded as a result of their industrial and agricultural uses, respectively.
Effects of cadmium and zinc on Procambarus clarkii: Simulation of the Aznalcóllar mining spill
Authors: Martín-Díaz ML , Tuberty SR , McKenney-Jr CL , Sales D , Del-Valls TA
Published: August 2017

Female red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, were exposed for 21 days in the laboratory to different dissolved concentrations of zinc (1000 µg L–1 and 3000 µg L–1) and cadmium (10 µg L–1 and 30 µg L–1), determined in the Guadiamar River after the Aznalcóllar mining spill (SW Spain). Female gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indexes were analyzed at the end of the bioassay, and a general decrease in the gonadosomatic index and increase in the hepatosomatic index were observed in individuals at the same maturation stage, exposed to increasing heavy metal concentrations. Only the decrease in the gonadosomatic index values was significant at the highest zinc concentration. Decreases in gonadosomatic indexes were associated with reduced fecundity.
Geochemical characterization of surficial sediments from the southwestern Iberian continental shelf
Authors: Machado A , Rocha F , Araújo MF , Vitali F , Gomes C , Dias JA
Published: August 2017

The impact of trace elements (Ba, Nb, Zr, Y, Sr, Rb, Pb, As, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, V, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb and Lu) transported by the Guadiana, Tinto-Odiel and Guadalquivir rivers on sediments from the southwestern Iberian continental shelf has been studied. Shelf surficial sediments from three transects established right in front of the river estuaries were characterized by specific signatures relative to those trace elements. The Guadiana transect shows high Zr concentration values; the Tinto-Odiel transect shows high heavy metal (Pb, As, Zn and Cu) concentration values; and the Guadalquivir transect shows high Sr concentration values. Data from the statistical analysis indicate three distinct sources for trace elements: lithogenic, biogenic and anthropogenic.
Using Big Data and Text Analytics to Understand How Customer Experiences Posted on Yelp.com Impact the Hospitality Industry
Authors: Ting Pei-Ju Lucy , Chen Szu-Ling , Chen Hsiang , Fang Wen-Chang
Published: August 2017

This study combines programming and data mining to analyze consumer reviews extracted from Yelp.com to deconstruct the hotel guest experience and examine its association with satisfaction ratings. The findings show many important factors in customer reviews that carry varying weights and find the meaningful semantic compositions inside the customer reviews. More importantly, our approach makes it possible to use big data analytics to find different perspectives on variables that might not have been studied in the hospitality literature.

Keywords: Big Data, Text Analytics, Data Mining, Social Website, Guest Experience Satisfaction, Hotel Management

To cite this document: Pei-Ju Lucy Ting, Szu-Ling Chen, Hsiang Chen, and Wen-Chang Fang, "Using Big Data and Text Analytics to Understand How Customer Experiences Posted on Yelp.com Impact the Hospitality Industry", Contemporary Management Research, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 107-130, 2017.

Permanent link to this document:
http://dx.doi.org/10.7903/cmr.17730
Early-Life Factors and Early-Onset Endometrial Cancer Risk in the UK Biobank
Authors: Peeri Noah C. , O’Connell Kelli , Kantor Elizabeth D. , Setiawan V. Wendy , Guo Xingyi , Lipworth Loren , Du Mengmeng
Published: October 2024

This case-control study investigates UK Biobank data for 8 early-life factors and early-onset endometrial cancer risk among UK residents.
Cysteine residues contribute to the regulation of Arabidopsis state transition 7 kinase
Authors: Ibrahim Iskander M. , Lee Ji H. , Weaver Seth , Kwizera Ronard , Lohman Jeremy R. , Puthiyaveetil Sujith
Published: October 2024

State transitions are an acclimatory response by which plants, algae, and cyanobacteria counteract photosynthetic inefficiency caused by changes in incident light quality. In plants and green algae, state transition 7 (STN7/STT7) kinase promotes state 2 transition. Conserved cysteine residues are implicated in STN7/STT7 regulation, but the precise nature of their involvement remains unclear. Here, an analysis of the STN7 thiols in vitro and a determination of their midpoint redox potential indicate that the lumenal disulfide linkage is unlikely to be redox regulated while the stromal cysteines form a regulatory intramolecular disulfide. We further show that thioredoxin f1 (Trx‐f1) reduces the STN7 stromal disulfide linkage as consistent with a Trx‐f1‐mediated inhibition of the kinase under high light.
Charge‐Sign‐Independent Separation of Mono‐ and Divalent Ions With Nanofiltration Membranes
Authors: Xu Ping , Duan Shaofan , Li Zhan , Hu Mengyang , Zhang Pengfei , Dai Liheng , Mai Zhaohuan , Guan Kecheng , Matsuyama Hideto
Published: October 2024

Achieving precise selective separation of monovalent and divalent cations, as well as anions, is vital yet challenging in practical applications involving complex component treatments. Current membranes are typically effective for separating either cation pairs or anion pairs. To address this issue, a straightforward strategy for fabricating a nanofiltration (NF) membrane is developed that selectively permeates monovalent ions. This study focused on neutralizing the surface charge and tuning the pore size distribution of the polyamide membranes through a secondary interfacial polymerization using a zwitterionic copolymer consisting of 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine and 2‐aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride. The optimized NF membrane prepared in this study, with a near‐neutrally charged membrane surface and appropriate pore size distribution, demonstrates favorable performance in precisely separating monovalent and divalent ions, irrespective of the ion charge sign. The optimum NF membrane features high selectivity for both Cl−/SO42− (93) and Li+/Mg2+ (67) ion pairs, along with high water permeance of 8.5 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, making it competitive with many reported membranes. This study offers new insights into the ion‐selective mechanisms of polyamide membranes for monovalent/divalent ions and may guide the development of advanced membranes with single‐solute selectivity.
Efficient Large Area Semi‐Transparent Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) Printed with DMD400 Technology
Authors: Raïssi Mahfoudh , Muwanwella Himal , Naz Falak , Bianchi Anaïs , Rousseau Didier , Sajjad Muhammad Tariq
Published: October 2024

This work presents the development of fully printed, large‐area, semi‐transparent Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) using TiO2 nanoparticles treated with TiCl4, a “D35” push‐pull dye sensitizer, and I3−/I− redox mediator. Cells with areas of 4 and 200 cm2 were printed using hexagonal, stripe, and standard designs, employing digital materials deposition (DMD) technology. The porous films printed via DMD, confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), improved solar cells performance by enhancing the Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) and fill factor (FF). The hexagonal design, in particular, facilitated better electrolyte impregnation in the TiO2 mesoporous structure, boosting current density. This design yielded a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.05% for 4 cm2 DSSCs, surpassing the stripe (5.50%) and standard (5.48%) designs. Its higher performance can be attributed to lower interfacial charge recombination rates and improvedcharge transfer and collection efficiency. Photophysical measurements indicated faster charge transfer rates in hexagonal cells (≈ 1.3  ×  109s−1) compared to the stripe (9.8  ×  108 s−1) and standard (9.5  ×  108 s−1) designs. Hence, our work highlights the potential of hexagonal design to improve both efficiency and transparency while reducing material consumption, offering a promising approach for manufacturing semi‐transparent solar cells.
Fullerene‐Free p–i–n Perovskite Solar Cells: Direct Deposition of Tin Oxide on Perovskite Layer Using Ligand Bridges
Authors: Kim Sung Yong , Woo Mun Young , Jeong Min Ju , Jeon Soo Woong , Ahn Jae Won , Park Jeong Hyeon , Kim Chan Young , Kim Dong Hyun , Oh Oui Jin , Yu Giseon , Lee Sangheon , Kim Changyong , Kim Dong Hoe , Noh Jun Hong
Published: October 2024

In p–i–n perovskite solar cells (PSCs), fullerene derivatives are predominantly used as an electron transport material (ETM) despite their disadvantages, such as parasitic absorption in the short wavelength range and high cost. State‐of‐the‐art n‐i‐p PSCs are fabricated using SnO2 as the ETM due to their high charge transfer ability, transparency, and low cost. However, in p–i–n PSCs, dispersing SnO2 nanoparticles in a solvent that does not damage the perovskite and forming a uniform layer is challenging. Herein, a strategy of directly depositing SnO2 quantum dots (QDs) on perovskite using ethylenediamine (EDA) for high‐performance applications is reported, which involves a SnO2 QD solution designed with a damage‐free cosolvent. Treating the SnO2 QD layer with the EDA strategy creates a conformal SnO2 QD layer and improves charge transport. This strategy achieves a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.9% in PSCs with a 1.77 eV bandgap, which is the highest PCE reported for wide bandgap p–i–n PSCs using an inorganic ETM. The top SnO2 layer enables ITO deposition without sputtering damage and achieves a bifacial factor of 99% due to the high transmittance of SnO2 QD. The resulting four‐terminal all‐perovskite tandem exhibited a PCE of 27.0%.
Comparative retrospective study on surgical outcomes of hand‐sewn anastomosis versus stapling anastomosis for colectomy using a nationwide inpatient database in Japan with propensity score matching
Authors: Ebinuma Shota , Kunisawa Susumu , Fushimi Kiyohide , Ichikawa Nobuki , Yoshida Tadashi , Homma Shigenori , Taketomi Akinobu , Imanaka Yuichi
Published: October 2024

Background

Intestinal anastomosis is performed by two main methods: hand‐sewn anastomosis (HA) and stapling anastomosis (SA). Studies on anastomosis are still being reported and are an ongoing area of interest. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of each by comparing them with description and statistical analysis using a nationwide inpatient database.

Methods

We collected data for colon cancer patients who underwent colectomy between April 2014 and March 2022 using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) database. In the descriptive analysis, we described the background of the study population and the number of each method. In the statistical analysis, we used propensity score matching to achieve balanced covariates and showed the results of the comparative study using risk ratios and risk differences.

Results

A total of 232 155 cases were selected (HA group: 40 764; SA group: 191 391). SA was performed more frequently than HA during the study period, with the proportion of SA increasing over the last few years (~80% in 2015 and 85% in 2021). We obtained 40 760 pairs through propensity score matching. The comparison of postoperative events varied by outcome (reoperation: 517 [1.27%] vs 380 [0.93%]; risk ratio [RR]: 1.36 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19 to 1.55], endoscopic intestinal hemostasis: 17 [0.04%] vs 80 [0.20%]; RR: 0.21 [95% CI, 0.13 to 0.36]).

Conclusion

SA is becoming more common in colectomy. The risk of reoperation could be higher in the HA group, while the risk of postoperative endoscopic intestinal hemostasis could be higher in the SA group.
Head‐to‐head comparison of leading blood tests for Alzheimer's disease pathology
Authors: Schindler Suzanne E. , Petersen Kellen K. , Saef Benjamin , Tosun Duygu , Shaw Leslie M. , Zetterberg Henrik , Dage Jeffrey L. , Ferber Kyle , Triana‐Baltzer Gallen , Du‐Cuny Lei , Li Yan , Coomaraswamy Janaky , Baratta Michael , Mordashova Yulia , Saad Ziad S. , Raunig David L. , Ashton Nicholas J. , Meyers Emily A. , Rubel Carrie E. , Rosenbaugh Erin G. , Bannon Anthony W. , Potter William Z. ,   Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Biomarkers Consortium Plasma Aβ and Phosphorylated Tau as Predictors of Amyloid and Tau Positivity in Alzheimer's Disease Project Team
Published: October 2024

INTRODUCTION

Blood tests have the potential to improve the accuracy of Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical diagnosis, which will enable greater access to AD‐specific treatments. This study compared leading commercial blood tests for amyloid pathology and other AD‐related outcomes.

METHODS

Plasma samples from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative were assayed with AD blood tests from C2N Diagnostics, Fujirebio Diagnostics, ALZPath, Janssen, Roche Diagnostics, and Quanterix. Outcomes measures were amyloid positron emission tomography (PET), tau PET, cortical thickness, and dementia severity. Logistic regression models assessed the classification accuracies of individual or combined plasma biomarkers for binarized outcomes, and Spearman correlations evaluated continuous relationships between individual plasma biomarkers and continuous outcomes.

RESULTS

Measures of plasma p‐tau217, either individually or in combination with other plasma biomarkers, had the strongest relationships with all AD outcomes.

DISCUSSION

This study identified the plasma biomarker analytes and assays that most accurately classified amyloid pathology and other AD‐related outcomes.

Highlights

Plasma p‐tau217 measures most accurately classified amyloid and tau status.

Plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 had relatively low accuracy in classification of amyloid status.

Plasma p‐tau217 measures had higher correlations with cortical thickness than NfL.

Correlations of plasma biomarkers with dementia symptoms were relatively low.
Dinitrogen Reduction and Functionalization by a Siloxide Supported Thulium‐Potassium Complex for the Formation of Ammonia or Hydrazine Derivatives
Authors: Shivaraam R. A. Keerthi , Rajeshkumar Thayalan , Scopelliti Rosario , Z̆ivković Ivica , Maron Laurent , Mazzanti Marinella
Published: October 2024

The dinitrogen (N2) chemistry of lanthanides remains less developed compared to the d‐block metals and lanthanide‐promoted N2 functionalization chemistry in well‐defined lanthanide complexes remains elusive. Here we report the synthesis and characterization (SQUID, EPR, DFT, X‐Ray) of the siloxide supported heterobimetallic (Tm/K) complexes [{KTm(OSi(OtBu)3)3}2(μ‐η2 : η2‐N2)] (1) and [K3{Tm(OSi(OtBu)3)3}2(μ‐η2 : η2‐N2)] (2). Complex 2 provides a rare example of a metal complex of the triply reduced N23− radical. The structure of 2 differs from the few previously reported N23− complexes as it presents two Tm and three K cations binding the N23− radical, facilitating N2 functionalization. Notably, the K3Tm2‐bound N23− moiety reacts with excess H+ to form NH4Cl in 18 % yield, and with MeOTf at room temperature to yield the dimethyl hydrazido complex [K2{Tm(OSi(OtBu)3)3}2(μ‐(CH3)NN(CH3))] (3). Protonolysis of 3 yields MeHN−NMeH ⋅ 2HCl in 18 % yield.
Enhancement of NIR‐II Emission of Er3+ by Doping Fe3+ in Double Perovskites: Multimode Luminescence for Versatile Optoelectronic Applications
Authors: Wang Yingsheng , Lou Bibo , Dang Peipei , Zhang Guodong , Wan Yujia , Tian Long , Lian Hongzhou , Hou Zhiyao , Ma Chonggeng , Li Guogang , Lin Jun
Published: October 2024

Erbium ions are commonly used to extend the photoelectric properties of metal halide perovskites from visible to near‐infrared range. However, achieving high‐efficiency multimode luminescence in a single system is difficult due to the weak absorption associated with forbidden 4f‐4f transitions. In this study, a unique strategy is proposed to adjust multimode luminescence and enhance the second near‐infrared region (NIR‐II) emission in Cs2NaBiCl6 by incorporating Fe3+ ions. The as‐prepared material demonstrates reversible thermochromism, driven by strong electron‐phonon coupling effect, and exhibits tunable luminescence that can be adjusted by altering excitation energy and temperature. Notably, benefitting from the charge transfer transition of Fe3+‐Cl− along with the influence of Fe3+ doping on the geometrical and electronic structures, the blue‐excitable (450 nm) NIR‐II emission around 1541 nm from Er3+ is realized for the first time, achieving an intensity 16.7 times higher and a maximum photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 22.5 %. This enhancement enables innovative applications such as two‐dimensional information encryption by the multi‐channel cooperative responses and improved NIR imaging. The study highlights the potential of Fe3+ doping in optimizing absorption and multimode luminescence in perovskites, opening avenues for advanced applications in blue‐excitable NIR light emitting diodes (LEDs), thermometer, anti‐counterfeiting, and NIR imaging.
Investigation into transport behavior of platinum‐Nafion interface with functionalized graphene oxide
Authors: Hu Yu , Liu Niannian , Wang Shuai , Xu Yao
Published: October 2024

In the catalytic layer of proton exchange membrane fuel cells, water molecules in ionomers tend to be accumulated at the ionomer/Pt interface, preventing oxygen from reaching the Pt surface to participate in chemical reactions. It is necessary to take measures to improve the water molecules distribution and proton transport performance in the ionomer on the Pt surface. In this work, the effect of “acid–base pair” functionalized graphene oxide (AB‐GO) as the additive on the distribution of water molecules and transport property in the ionomer is evaluated. The results demonstrate that with the addition of AB‐GO, the distribution uniformity of water molecules and hydronium ions in the ionomer on the Pt surface is improved. The connectivity of water cluster is also increased. When the doping ratio of BAF‐GO and TF‐GO is 1:3, the connectivity coefficient of water cluster is about 1.37 times that of Nafion ionomer without the doping.
Short‐Term Benefits of Tillage and Agronomic Biofortification for Soybean–Wheat Cropping in Central India
Authors: Nargund Raghavendra , Verma Rakesh Kumar , Ramesh Aketi , Sharma Mahaveer Prasad , Halli Hanamant Mudakappa , Govindasamy Prabhu
Published: October 2024

In a changing climate, conservation tillage and agronomic biofortification are essential for enhancing crop yield, nutritional security, carbon stocks, and soil quality. Consequently, a field study was conducted in central India to assess the short‐term (4 years) effects of crop establishment techniques (CETs) and agronomic biofortification methods (ABMs) on soil health indicators, grain yield, and quality in the soybean–wheat cropping system. The experiment followed a split‐plot design with two CETs in the main plots (permanent broad bed furrow, PBBF, and conventional tillage, CT) and eight ABMs, each with three replications. The results indicated that PBBF and ABMs (seed inoculation with the microbial strains MDSR 14 + MDSR 34, and soil and foliar application of Zn+Fe) improved soil carbon stock (by 49.6% and 52.4%), available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, available Zn (by 30.0%), and Fe (by 21.9%) after the fourth year of the study. Similarly, PBBF and microbial inoculation increased soil enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, and β‐glucosidase), substrate‐induced respiration, and microbial biomass carbon content. As a result, a higher soybean equivalent yield (5.59% higher in PBBF and 14.2% higher with foliar spray of Zn+Fe) and seed quality attributes (crude protein yield, grain Zn, and Fe) were observed in PBBF and the foliar spray of Zn and Fe treatments compared to CT and control, respectively. Overall, adopting the short‐term PBBF system, microbial inoculation, and soil and foliar application of Zn and Fe improved rhizosphere biochemical properties, yield, and seed quality in the soybean–wheat system.
Testing secondary sex ratio bias hypotheses in white‐tailed deer in Mississippi, USA
Authors: Dentinger Jane E. , Dolan Todt Lacy A. , Schultz Emma A. , Helferich James N. , Demarais Stephen , DeYoung Randy W. , McKinley William T. , Strickland Bronson K. , Boudreau Melanie R.
Published: October 2024

Natural selection favors individuals with the highest inclusive fitness (i.e., total number of descendants). In cases where one sex is more productive, one or both parents may maximize their inclusive fitness by investing in the offspring of the more prolific sex. Such preferential production can lead to skewed sex ratios at various life history stages, including at birth, resulting in secondary sex ratio bias. Several competing hypotheses have been proposed to explain observed variation in secondary sex ratios including Fisher's frequency dependence and two hypotheses related to maternal condition: Trivers–Willard and the local resource hypotheses. Although it has been shown that maternal condition can influence the number of offspring produced in white‐tailed deer, there is no consensus as to which of the hypotheses drives sex ratio bias in wild populations. Using a spatiotemporally extensive dataset of pregnant white‐tailed deer from Mississippi, USA, we examined fetal sex ratio in relation to the Fisherian frequency‐dependence hypothesis and hypotheses related to maternal condition. While there was a male‐sex ratio bias in pregnant females that reduced in intensity with the number of offspring, there was no support for condition‐related hypotheses. Instead, secondary sex ratios for white‐tailed deer in Mississippi were nearly consistent with Fisherian frequency dependence. Our findings add to the body of literature on secondary sex biases in white‐tailed deer and help inform sex bias ratios for a southern population of a cervid of management importance in the US.
Developmental Social Experience Changes Behavior in a Threatening Environment in Corydoras Catfish
Authors: Siddiqui Munir , Chiang Austin , Lac Ethan , Kern Jesse , Wilkinson Gerald , Jungwirth Arne , Allen James , Riley Riva J.
Published: October 2024

Coordinated responses to threats are important for predator evasion in many species. This study examines the effect of developmental social experience on antipredator behavior and group cohesion in a highly gregarious catfish that communicates via tactile interaction, Corydoras aeneus. We reared fish either in a mixed‐age group of age‐matched peers and adult C. aeneus (mixed‐age condition, or MAC), or with age‐matched peers only (same‐age condition, or SAC). A startle test was conducted with small groups of subadults from either social rearing condition. Prior to any startle events, SAC subadults had increased tactile communication compared to MAC subadults, but SAC individuals were overall less active. SAC fish exhibited a stronger antipredator response to startles, and were more likely to freeze or take refuge in cover in response to a startle than MAC fish. MAC fish tended to respond to startle events by maintaining or decreasing their cohesion, whereas SAC fish tended to maintain or increase their cohesion. These behavioral differences are attributed to MAC fish developing with group protection as a result of shoaling with adults, resulting in reduced antipredator responses when reared with adults. This study underscores how social context during development can be critical in shaping how individuals perceive and respond to potential threats in their environment.
Kimboza, a Small Lowland Forest With an Outstanding Herpetofauna Diversity in East Africa
Authors: Lyakurwa John V. , Loader Simon P. , Ngalason Wilirk , Gumbs Rikki , Ofori‐Boateng Caleb , Liedtke H. Christoph
Published: October 2024

The Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM) and Coastal forests of Tanzania are renowned for harboring large number of threatened and endemic vertebrate species, yet most of these areas have been partially studied. The Kimboza Nature Forest Reserve (KNFR) is a small forest which is in transition between the EAM and Coastal forests, and among the poorly surveyed areas for amphibians and reptiles. We conducted systematic surveys across the KNFR in 2012 and between 2020 and 2023 using a range of approaches with the aim of establishing a comprehensive and updated list of reptile and amphibian species and assess the contribution of EAM and Coastal forests to the KNFR's herpetofauna. We identified 77 species, 29 amphibians and 48 reptiles, substantially updating previous species lists. Three of these species (Kinyongia magomberae, Trachylepis boulengeri and Philothamnus macrops) represent range extensions from previously known ranges. Fourteen species are endemic to East Africa, 11 of them being restricted to Tanzania. These results make the KNFR the richest forest reserve for herpetofauna per square km in Tanzania, and most similar in its composition to the Coastal, rather than Eastern Arc forests. With the caveats concerning taxonomic uncertainties and the inequalities of sampling intensity across the region, this study shows that the KNFR is an important area that deserves conservation attention. The KNFR, like other Coastal forests, is under significant pressure from anthropogenic activities which call for an urgent action to protect this small but rich forest.
Genetic Structure and Phylogeographic Divergence of Thymallus brevicephalus in the Ob‐Irtysh River Headwaters
Authors: Peng Wenjie , Han Haoxiang , Ma Bo
Published: October 2024

Clarifying the genetic structure and population history of a species can reveal the impacts of historical climate and geological changes, providing critical insights for developing effective conservation strategies for ecologically significant fish. The Markakol grayling (Thymallus brevicephalus), an endangered species found in the Altai‐Sayan Mountain region of Central Asia, serves as an ideal model for studying these factors. In this study, populations of a grayling (Thymallus) species discovered in the upper Irtysh River headwaters in Xinjiang, China, were analyzed to assess genetic diversity and population structure. Mitochondrial DNA sequences (cytochrome b and control region), along with 10 microsatellite markers, were used to examine genetic variation. Phylogenetic and genetic distance analyses confirmed the species, long misidentified as Arctic grayling (T. arcticus), as T. brevicephalus. This species can be divided into two distinct geographic groups: eastern and western, with the Crane River acting as the boundary. The divergence between these groups likely corresponds to refugia formed during the Pleistocene glaciation of the Altai Mountains, approximately 0.48 MA (million years ago) (range: 0.30 to 0.71 Ma). High haplotype diversity (Hd > 0.5) and low nucleotide diversity (π < 0.005) suggest that, despite the species' genetic richness, T. brevicephalus remains vulnerable to genetic drift, which could threaten its long‐term survival. This vulnerability may stem from inbreeding within small refugial populations during the glacial period, followed by gradual population expansion. Our study offers novel insights into grayling populations, with results that have direct implications for management by serving as a tool for the identification of conservation units.
Simple, Specific, and Ultra‐Sensitive Arsenic Detection in Real Drinking Water Samples Using an Impedimetric Green Sensor with Dimercaprol‐Doped Solid Electrolyte
Authors: Keser Kübra , Soylu Mehmet Çağrı
Published: October 2024

Arsenic monitoring is of paramount importance due to its toxicity, which poses potential public health hazards. While numerous sensitive methods exist, many are unsuitable for on‐site, rapid, real‐time measurements, and their sensor preparation is often time‐consuming and intricate. Addressing this gap necessitates the development of an easy‐to‐use, rapid, and reasonably affordable arsenic detection device featuring an eco‐friendly sensor. For on‐site arsenic monitoring, the optimal solution involves creating a sensitive impedimetric electrochemical sensor that is real‐time, fast, low‐cost, simple to design and use, and portable. This study introduces an electrochemical impedimetric sensor with a patent‐pending, solid electrolyte based on gelatin enriched with dimercaprol. The results demonstrate the detection of phenylarsine oxide in real drinking water samples, achieving a detection limit of 0.02 ng/mL within the linear range of 0.05 ng/mL to 100 ng/mL in just 40 minutes, utilizing a simple method and easily accessible, inexpensive, biodegradable chemicals. The methodology yields a sensitive sensor with biodegradable potential, exerting a negligible impact on the environment and human health.
Cost‐Effective Approach to Fabricate Oxide‐Based Bulk Thermoelectric Generator for Low‐Grade Waste Heat Harvesting
Authors: Anadkat Devang , Pandya Anil , Dungani Shreya , Jaiswal Anmol , Patel Nirali , Badampudi Chandrababu , Sanchela Anup V.
Published: October 2024

Oxide materials are well explored in thermoelectric and optoelectronic device applications due to their wide range of tunable properties, thermal stability, compatibility with other materials, nontoxicity, and earth abundancy. As a result, it can often be integrated into devices, which facilitates the development of oxide‐based thermoelectric generators at low cost. In this work, we synthesized BaxCoO2 and graphene‐doped In2O3 by solid‐state reaction route and then incorporated them in thermoelectric generator for the first time. A preliminary 3‐couple device is designed on a glass substrate. Here, the unique aspect is that graphite paint is used for the first time to make contact between oxide and metal electrodes instead of earlier used soldering and diffusion techniques, which prevents metals from diffusing in the oxide matrix. This device generates an open‐circuit voltage of 30 mV whereas it produces an output power of 0.3 μW with power density of ≈15.5 nW cm−2 for ΔT of 60 K, which is comparable to earlier reported metal‐based Bi0.5Se1.5Te3/Bi2Se0.3Te2.7TE devices. Further, the physical dimensions of the generators can be adjusted and the temperature gradient can be increased to get the desired power. This work offers a promising strategy for the development of thick as well as thin thermoelectric generators at an affordable cost.
Synthetic Strategies for C‐Amino 1,2,3‐Triazoles and Their Oxides: A Review
Authors: Balabanova Sofya P. , Voronin Alexey A. , Churakov Aleksandr M. , Klenov Michael S. , Tartakovsky Vladimir A.
Published: October 2024

The review is devoted to synthetic methods for the preparation of C‐amino 1,2,3‐triazoles and their oxides being important precursors in the development of energetic compounds as well as in biological, medicinal, organic, bio‐organic, polymer, and material chemistry. This research mainly covers papers published after year 1986.
Predictors of Abnormal MRI Findings in Patients with Asymmetrical Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Authors: Prayuenyong Pattarawadee , Pitathawatchai Pittayapon , Plodpai Yuvatiya , Atchariyasathian Viraporn , Khaimook Wandee , Chotipanvithayakul Rassamee , Kirtsreesakul Virat
Published: October 2024

Objective

This study aimed to determine the predictive factors of abnormal MRI findings in patients with asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL).

Study Design

A retrospective review of medical records.

Setting

A tertiary care hospital.

Methods

Patients with asymmetries of ≥10 dB in at least 1 frequency, who underwent an MRI study of the temporal bone or brain during 2019–2021, were included. Age, sex, clinical symptoms, past medical history, and audiometric parameters, including pure tone thresholds, speech reception thresholds, and speech discrimination scores, were retrieved from the electronic database. The MRI findings reported by radiologists were reviewed and extracted.

Results

Of 390 patients, 50 (12.8%) patients had relevant abnormal MRI findings that could explain ASNHL. The most prevalent abnormal MRI finding was an internal acoustic canal (IAC) or cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumor (n = 38; 76.0%), with other notable abnormalities including labyrinthitis, stroke, mucocele, and epidermoid. Multiple logistic regression analysis highlighted that hearing asymmetry of 15 dB at 1000 Hz (OR = 4.8; 95% CI 2.2–10.5) was a significant variable. The proposed predictor demonstrated 84% sensitivity and 48% specificity in detecting abnormal MRI findings.

Conclusion

A hearing asymmetry of 15 dB at 1000 Hz was an important clinical predictor of abnormal MRI findings in patients with ASNHL. This finding has the potential to serve as a referral guide for further MRI investigations.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 135:1155–1160, 2025
Self‐quantification and consumer well‐being: A meta‐analytic review
Authors: Jain Anuj , Pradhan Debasis , Kuanr Abhisek , Singh Shiwangi
Published: October 2024

Self‐quantification technology is increasingly and irrevocably transforming consumers' relationships with their own minds and bodies. However, existing research findings on the contribution of self‐quantification to consumer well‐being are disparate. Given the popularity of self‐quantification technology among consumers in the post‐pandemic era and its inherent transformative nature, it is surprising that this gap remains unaddressed. To resolve this inconsistency and to examine how and when self‐quantification influences consumer well‐being, we conduct a meta‐analysis of consumer well‐being in the context of self‐quantification technology. Our findings reveal that self‐quantification positively influences consumer well‐being. However, self‐quantification also negatively affects consumer well‐being through body image and self‐esteem. The systematic moderation effects of cultural dimensions (e.g., uncertainty avoidance and individualism), prior experience, data sharing, and sample characteristics on the relationship between self‐quantification and consumer well‐being are also confirmed. While uncertainty avoidance, prior experience, and data sharing accentuate the positive effects of self‐quantification on consumer well‐being, an individualistic culture attenuates this influence. This study contributes to the consumer well‐being literature and extends objectification theory in the context of self‐quantification. These findings will guide practitioners and policymakers in devising strategies and policies to allow self‐quantification technology to be used in a way that enhances consumers' health and well‐being.
Crushing responses of carbon/glass hybrid composite tubes under dynamic compressive loads
Authors: Wang Yining , Chen Dongdong , Xiao Shoune , Zhu Tao , Liu Yanwen
Published: October 2024

In this study, the axial crushing response and energy‐absorbing mechanisms of circular composite tubes, which were reinforced by carbon fiber (C10) and carbon/glass hybrids (C3G4C3), were investigated experimentally and numerically. Both samples exhibited similar crushing responses comprising delamination and intralayer shear failure. The impact kinetic energy is primarily converted into frictional and composite damage energies. C3G4C3 had poorer crashworthiness with a mean crushing force and specific energy absorption of 313.3 kN and 58.0 kJ/kg, which are by 39.3% and 30.8% less, respectively, than those of C10. The influence of glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) content (hybrid ratio) and stacking sequence on tubal crashworthiness was investigated numerically. For composite tubes with a hybrid ratio of 40%, the central distribution of GFRP (C3G4C3) achieved optimal energy absorption performance. Additionally, when GFRP layers were centralized stacked, a reduction of the hybrid ratio from 60% (G3C4G3) to 20% (GC8G) helped improve the crashworthiness of the hybrid tubes, where the mean crushing force increased by 23%.

Highlights

Impact responses of composite tubes reinforced by carbon fiber and carbon/glass hybrids were investigated experimentally and numerically.

Carbon/glass hybrid tubes exhibited lower crashworthiness.

The effects of stacking sequence and hybrid ratio on the energy absorption performance were studied.
Compressive behaviors and deformation mechanism of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites: A microscopic and molecular dynamics perspective
Authors: Chen Jingjing , Li Bo , Li Gen , Gu Bohong , Sun Baozhong
Published: October 2024

Investigating the macro‐mechanical properties of polymer composites at the nanoscale is a challenging topic. Here we report the compressive performances of carbon fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The evolution of microstructure and microscopic energy, including free volume, radius of gyration, dihedral angle, potential energy, and interaction energy, has been investigated to characterize compressive behaviors at the nanoscale. Molecular chains gradually bend, and the movement space of the molecular chains decreases during compression loading. The radius of gyration and dihedral angle are deformed into a state of irreversible plasticity to accommodate the microstructural transformation. The interaction energy increases and subsequently declines as the carbon fiber/epoxy interface gets closer, reflecting the transition of the internal structure. The inhomogeneity and interfacial concentration distribution of stress, and local molecular stiffness under various strains have been obtained to reveal the nanoscopic mechanism of epoxy failure and interface delamination during compression. This study reveals the compression behaviors and deformation mechanism of carbon fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites at the molecular level, providing directions and possibilities for molecular design and structural optimization of composites.

Highlights

The nanoscopic compression deformation of CFRP composites is studied.

Microstructural evolution and conformation transformation are revealed.

The evolution and transition of microscopic energy are analyzed.

Micro‐mechanism of epoxy deformation and interface delamination is elucidated.
Post‐Treating Grain Boundaries and Surface Defects by Long‐Chain Polymer for Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Zou Yihui , Ding Yi , Hu Haihua , Zhang Hao , Li Chao , Cao Yingyi , Lin Ping , Wang Peng , Xu Lingbo , Cui Can
Published: October 2024

Grain boundaries (GBs) and surface defects within perovskite films are inherent challenges that affect the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells  (PSCs. In this work, Nylon 11 (N11) is utilized, a long‐chain polymer, for post‐treating the GBs and surface defects within FAPbI3 films. The multifunctional groups of N11 exhibit unique passivation abilities, enabling self‐regulation and selective correction of reverse‐charged defects. Post‐treating with N11 results in high‐quality FAPbI3 films characterized by tight GBs and low surface defect density. Despite fabrication under full open‐air conditions, the N11 post‐treatment significantly enhances the power conversion efficiency (PCE) value of FAPbI3 PSCs, increasing it from the reference value of 21.89% to 23.54%. Importantly, the long alkyl chain present in N11 significantly enhances the humidity stability of the PSCs. Unencapsulated PSCs treated with N11 maintain 89% of their initial PCE after exposure to air with 30% relative humidity (RH) for 1000 h, demonstrating resilience to elevated humidity levels. This work highlights the substantial improvement in the photovoltaic performance of PSCs achieved through the post‐treatment with N11.
Mode 2 critical systems practice for complex safety decisions: Reflections from New Zealand's dairy industry
Authors: Norris Daniel , Foote Jeff , Greatbanks Richard
Published: October 2024

Poor decision‐making contributes to disasters in complex industrial systems. Improving group decision‐making practices for safety‐critical interventions is crucial yet hindered by a fragmented safety science literature. Our study applies Jackson's critical systems practice (CSP) to a complex safety problem at a New Zealand dairy manufacturing facility. Reflective practice, employed in the study and writing this article, underlines CSP's usefulness in navigating complex emergent safety challenges. Key insights include clarifying cognitive complexity amongst participants early in an intervention, focusing more sharply on crucial safety outcomes by using critical facilitation and enhancing CSP's ‘Check’ stage using reflective practice. We conclude by calling on scholars to prioritise the application of CSP in real‐world contexts to deepen our understanding of systemic praxis and generate actionable improvements.
Study on Microstructure and Low‐Temperature Impact Toughness in Coarse Grain Heat‐Affected Zone of EH460 Steel
Authors: Zhang Pengyan , Yang Yi , Huang Zhenyi , Yue Qiang , Zhang Ke
Published: October 2024

Herein, the effects of peak temperature on the microstructure and low‐temperature impact toughness of coarse grain heat‐affected zone (CGHAZ) of EH460 steel are investigated by Gleeble simulation welding. The low‐temperature impact toughness of CGHAZ decreases with the increase of peak temperature. With the increase of peak temperature, the microstructure of CGHAZ gradually changes from bainite to a mixed structure composed of bainite, intragranular ferrite, side lath ferrite, and a small amount of grain boundary ferrite. The inclusions size decreases as the peak temperature increases. The existence of large‐sized inclusions is conducive to the initiation and propagation of cracks, reducing the low‐temperature impact toughness of the material.
Investigation on the Seismic Damage and Identification of Lateral Stiffness for Ancient Timber Structures
Authors: Liu Kang , Xue Jianyang , Bai Fuyu , Ma Linlin , Song Dejun , Xue Hao
Published: October 2024

This paper investigates the seismic damage and identification of lateral stiffness for ancient timber structures. Based on the shaking table test of a palace‐style timber structure, the lateral displacement responses, interstory equivalent lateral stiffness (IELS), and sensitivity of lateral displacement to degradation of IELS were analyzed to investigate the degradation and identification of IELS. The state and observation equations of a simplified mechanical model of the timber frame considering the friction slipping of the column base were predicted. Considering the noise disturbance in the test, the IELS of the model was identified by the partial least squares–singular value decomposition (PLS‐SVD) and extended Kalman filter (EKF) method. Results shown that the ratio of the IELS of the column frame layer to Ru‐Fu layer decreased as the seismic damage increased, and the peak lateral displacement was more sensitive to the damage of the column frame layer than the Ru‐Fu layer. Under nondamage conditions, the identification error of the IELS was about 10%, while the error ranged from 15% to 20% under damage conditions. Through the identification of the equivalent lateral stiffness of the Xi'an bell tower, it was validated that the hybrid method is effective in monitoring the IELS of ancient timber structures.