bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanism of Cd Content Migration in Sea and Land
Authors: Yang Dongfang , Li Haixia , Zhang Longlei , Wang Qi , Zhu Hong
Published: March 2021

based on the survey data of Cd content in Jiaozhou Bay in May, August and October of 1992, the paper studies the process of ocean current transport and the source of Cd content in Jiaozhou Bay. The spatial variation of Cd content from source transport in May, August and October is shown according to Dongfang Yang’s matter content migration rule, which is revealed with the model block diagram. The location, size, type and time scale of source of Cd content transport are also determined. There were three main sources of Cd content in Jiaozhou Bay, from run-off transport, river transport and main sea current transport. Rivers carried Cd content in excess of 0.96μg/L over the year, slightly polluting land and rivers. In addition, Cd content in run-off and main sea current was greater than 1.10μg/L, which means the whole land and ocean were slightly polluted by Cd content. Among rivers flowing into Jiaozhou Bay, there are four major rivers which carried Cd content into the waters of Jiaozhou Bay: Haibo River, Licun River, Loushan River and Dagu River. According to Cd content in the river, from high to low was: Dagu River > Licun River > Loushan River > Haibo River. The Cd content transport time scale of Licun River, Loushan River and Dagu River was the same, while that of Haibo River was shorter. The mechanism of land transport and sea transport is put forward by authors, and the mechanism of alternating migration of Cd content between land and sea is revealed. In May, the land began transporting large quantities of Cd into the sea; from May to August, the land transported Cd content to the sea for three months; In August, the transport from land to sea ended, and the main sea current began to transport Cd content in large quantities; from August to October, the main sea current transported Cd content to the ocean for two months; In October, transport of the main sea current ended, and rivers began to carry Cd to the ocean again. The Cd content transported by northern run-off in May was 1.10μg/L and the Cd content transported by main sea current in August was 1.11μg/L, which further confirmed the authors’ theory of matter uniformity. It can be seen that the Cd content transported by land and by sea was the same. Thus land and sea had the consistency of matter content.
Research on the multifunctional oil spill recovery rescue ship
Authors: Zhang Boxu
Published: March 2021

In order to deal with sudden oil spills at sea in a timely and effective manner, the ship mainly uses bubble-type anti-fouling curtains to isolate the pollution, combined with the oil spill recovery device of the bionic jellyfish for oil spill recovery. Traditional oil spill accident handling requires coordination and arrangement of various functional ships to operate separately. The integrated scheme designed in this paper integrates the improved pipe laying device and oil spill recovery device into a unified whole. As the development of marine oil and gas continues to heat up, and the requirements for marine environmental protection in the world continue to increase, there are also higher and higher requirements for oil spill recovery vessels and oil booms. Therefore, a rescue ship that can respond quickly in the event of an oil spill has great prospects.
Natural Degradation Simulation and Phytoremediation of Oil-Contaminated Soil
Authors: Dong Yijie , Zheng Zhiyang , liao Lei , Yan Jiaqing , Deng Shaoqiao
Published: March 2021

In order to remediate the soils contaminated by oil and solve the disruption of ecological balance caused thereby, appropriate measures shall be taken to improve the oil degradation effect of the soil. This paper is based on study of current available soil remediation techniques of the oil-contaminated soil, focuses on the simulation of microbial degradation and phytoremediation techniques so as to conclude the corresponding degradation schemes with the optimal type of plants, which is aimed at providing the theoretical guidance for the actual remediation effect of oil contaminated soil.
Experimental study on treatment of malachite green wastewater by single iron heterogeneous fenton system
Authors: Li Yafeng , Hu Huixue , Wang Siqi
Published: March 2021

The effect and influencing factors of single-iron heterogeneous Fenton system in the treatment of malachite green wastewater were experimentally studied. The test results show that: the initial pH is 3, the dosage of Fe/AC heterogeneous catalyst is 2g/L and after the reaction is 120min, the wastewater color removal rate can reach 92.01%, and COD removal rate can reach 78.95%.
Analysis of ‘7.23’ hydrogen cylinder explosion accidents of three quartz products companys
Authors: Kong Xiangzhi , Yang Chengcheng , Zhang Lijing , Tao Gang
Published: March 2021

On July 23, 2004, three quartz manufacturing companies’ hydrogen cylinders exploded during operation in the same county of China. Six people were killed and several buildings collapsed. In this paper, the cause of hydrogen cylinder explosions is analyzed by introducing the production and operation process of hydrogen. The energy and the overpressure generated by the explosion are estimated through quantitative analysis. In order to safely release hydrogen, corresponding methods are designed. The lessons learned from chemical process safety are also presented to prevent similar accidents from occurring, which is helpful to prevent personal injury and loss of property.
Experimental validation of the Finite Element-Multibody model of a cryomodule during road transportation
Authors: Bucchi F , Neri P , Passarelli D
Published: March 2021

The present activity aims to test the Transportation Tooling (TT) designed for the Cryomodule SSR1 at Fermilab facilities. The tests consisted of road transportation trials of a cryomodule sub-assembly, suspended on a truck using the designed TT. The truck drove along a path inside Fermilab facilities. The trial was performed at an approximate speed of about 25 km/h, which is close to the transportation conditions of the complete Cryomodule. Several accelerometers were mounted on the Transportation Tooling frame and the cryomodule sub-assembly. This allowed comparing the vibration behavior of the inner frame of the TT with the solicitation coming from the truck loading bed, to assess the filtering capabilities of the tooling. Also, the acceleration of the main components could be monitored during the whole transportation, to obtain a validation of the developed numerical model.
Development of Android Based Application for Monitoring Engine Lubricant Condition in Four Wheeled Vehicle and Driving Behaviour Effects on Engine Lubricant Condition
Authors: Nugroho H S , Dewantoro M A , Atmaja D E
Published: March 2021

Engine lubricant is a liquid chemical that is given between two moving objects to reduce the frictional force that occurs. Engine lubricant needs to be replaced periodically to maintain the durability of four-wheeled vehicles. Manufacturers of four-wheeled vehicle manufacturers have given the lubricant replacement period to consumers, but this time period is only a reference. The purpose of this research is to study the calculation method to find the right time to replace the lubricant along with its parameters, study the relationship and characteristics between engine lubricant temperature with coolant temperature, and study the relationship of driving behaviour to decrease engine lubricant conditions. This research was carried out by taking data on engine lubricant temperature and coolant using ANCEL and then analysed it to get the formula for determining engine oil temperature and found the mean absolute error of 0 to 3.60. This research is done by testing the driving behaviour of eco, normal, and sport as far as 300 km for each driving behaviour. In this study, engine speed and coolant temperature data are taken through OBD II and then processed using Raspberry Pi into RPS and engine lubricant temperature then further processed by the backend then the data is sent to Android. On the Android application, the output of the data processing results is displayed as a percentage of engine lubricant conditions, engine lubricant remaining distance, and engine lubricant remaining time. The test results show that in sports driving behaviour, the condition of engine lubricants decreased the most at 3.9% followed by normal at 3.18% and the lowest decreased was eco with 2.39%.
The Effect of Gain and Frequency on Eddy Current Testing for Copper Material Defect Inspection
Authors: Mohd W.Syahidah W. , Attan Farraniza , Rifai Damhuji , Ali Kharudin , Sulaiman M.Aizat M. , Mamat Nor Hana
Published: March 2021

Copper and the copper alloys are some of the most versatile materials available and used for applications in every type of industry with world consumption of exceeding 14 million tonnes per annum. In eddy current testing inspection (ECT), several forms of device calibration must be done before the assessment can be performed. The electronics equipment must be calibrated to ensure the accuracy of measurement. This paper is focused on investigate the optimum frequency and gain for copper material block. The material used to produce the sample test in this project was copper. They are many methods that involved in this project such as producing sample test and artificial defect, conductivity measure and perform calibration for copper material block. Two thickness of copper block were selected 8mm and 16 mm. Artificial defect with depth of defect 0.5 mm, 1mm and 2.0 mm are fabricate on the sample. Different frequency and gain of eddy current testing was used in order to identify the best setting for both parameters in ECT for copper material defect inspection. Experimental result showed that the thickness is directly proportional with the applied gain. From here the negative scanning will giving the good result of different slot of defect comparing the negative scanning. Besides the percentage of increment of signal amplitude being identify with increment 40% signal between 0.5mm and 1.0mm slot of defect. Lastly the depth of the slot is inversely proportional with applied gain.
Thermal Characterization of Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanocomposites
Authors: Faiz M.Alif , Yahya Nor Aisyah Mat , Yusoff N.N.A.N. , Hashim Norazlina , Shakirah Lili , Abdullah Nabihah
Published: March 2021

Nanocomposite films of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) with GF(graphene flakes), GO (graphene oxide) and G(Graphite) as nanofillers have been synthesized. Nanocomposites were prepared to contain various weight amounts of nanofiller (0.3, 1, 1.5, 2 and 3%) within PVA matrix. The film is cast on a clean glass plate through the solution casting method and dried in the oven. Here a report of a simple and practical approach to synthesizing graphene-reinforced poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite films by incorporating other filler into PVA aqueous solution. Further, the investigation of thermal properties was used using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Thermal stability shows the best stability with the nanofillers content of 1% for G, GO and GF. Nanocomposites with an additional of 1% GF gives the highest thermal stability compared to 1% of G and GO.
Organic-inorganic composition for stone masonry walls of ancient tower and necropolis buildings in the North Caucasus
Authors: Bataev D K-S , Murtazaevi S-A J , Mazhiev Kh N , Maloroev M M , Bataev G K-S , Goitemirov R U , Gaziev M A , Bataeva P D
Published: March 2021

Search works were performed based on archival and bibliographic research, which allowed us to get an idea of the monuments of archeology, history, and culture. For laboratory physical and physicomechanical studies, samples collection of the masonry wall solution was taken. Based on the conducted laboratory studies, a conclusion was made about the necessary grade strength of the masonry mortar of 25-75 kg/cm2 with the following physical and mechanical properties of the solution are as follows: average compressive strength-8.3 MPa; water absorption-11.7%; porosity-18.3%; volume weight-1.56 g / cm3.stress-related properties: average compression strength – 8.3 MPa; water absorption – 11.7%; porosity – 18.3%; volume weight – 1.56 g/cm3. The testing of new experimental compositions was performed in places accessible for observation and documented. Local inert, reinforcing, and binding materials were used to select the composition of the stone masonry solution for the walls of ancient tower and necropolis buildings. The research was carried out using existing methods, adjusted to take into account the peculiarities of the historical and cultural monuments under consideration. Based on the study results were developed organic-inorganic compositions of solutions of stone masonry walls of ancient tower and necropolis buildings in the North Caucasus.
Behavior of asphalt concrete mixture during relaxation
Authors: Shishkin E A , Ivanchenko S N , Shemyakin S A
Published: March 2021

The article discusses the asphalt concrete mixture compaction process with a road roller. The rheological model of a smooth drum and material interaction is adopted. The relaxation process that occur in the asphalt concrete mixture during compaction has been studied. During dynamic modeling, the physical and mechanical characteristics of the compacted material influence on the behavior of the latter during relaxation was established. The article reveals the relaxation process physical essence, which plays an important role in the material compaction. The law of asphalt concrete mixture behavior during relaxation was determined. The obtained dependencies make it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the force effect of a smooth drum on each pass of the roller.
Study of the tension of a heterogeneous hydroelastic system
Authors: Zaretskaya M V
Published: March 2021

The purpose of the article is to analyze seismic-acoustic wave fields and stress-strain state in a complex heterogeneous seismogenic structure of the contact area of the continental and oceanic crust, taking into account two types of impact: technogenic and pressure of the oceanic water column. The study uses the theory of block structures and the block element method, developed on the basis of a topological approach. It is shown that the contact stress can be considered as a superposition of stress waves occurring at the interface between the liquid and elastic media. The number of waves, their amplitude and frequency are determined by the physical and geometric characteristics of the volume of the liquid, the elastic semi-bounded layer, the elastic foundation, as well as the oscillation frequency of the external harmonic load. The model can be useful in the design of a transport network, production facilities on the coastal territory, since it allows one to assess seismic risks before the start of the process, as well as the risks of associated hazardous exogenous phenomena - landslides, tsunamis, and volcanism activation.
Losing the shock wave front profile due to interaction with turbulence
Authors: Fukushima Gaku , Wei Jiaxi , Ogawa Shingo , Hagiwara Jun , Nakamura Yusuke , Sasoh Akihiro
Published: March 2021

In this study, losing the shock wave profiles under interactions with grid turbulence was investigated experimentally and theoretically. We demonstrated that the shock wave contrast on side-view schlieren images gradually decreased to an undetectable level in the experiment. This shock wave ‘vanishment’ occurred at a low shock Mach number with a high turbulent Mach number. With a relatively strong shock wave, the contrast of the shock wave remained detectable although the shock wave profile region was expanded. To understand the shock wave vanishment phenomenon during interaction with turbulence, we established a shock wave vanishment model based on the solution of a one-dimensional interaction between a shock wave and forward induced flow. The criterion of the occurrence of local vanishment of the shock wave was derived as

M

t

⩾
(

M

s

2

−
1
)

/

M

s

, where

M

t

is the turbulent Mach number and

M

s

is the shock Mach number. The proposed shock vanishment model involves the effect of the interaction length and the shock wave recovery characteristics. The derived model explains the vanishment of weak shock wave profile during turbulence with an interaction length of ten times the order of the integral scale of the turbulence, as observed in the experiment.
Geometry of spiral beams: 3D curved structured vortex beams and optical currents
Authors: Volyar A V , Abramochkin E G , Razueva E V , Bretsko M V , Akimova Ya E
Published: March 2021

Our research concerns the problem of constructing multiple-twisted spiral beams and the geometry of their fine structure. We analyzed the distribution of energy flows in triangular spiral beams and critical points’ positions responsible for their structural stability. It was shown experimentally that a three-spot beam propagates without breaking the internal structure, while the intricate framing of a multiple-twisted triangular beam is distorted beyond the Rayleigh length. We associate such a structural violation with the imperfection of the holographic grating in the spatial light modulator.
Synthesis of photocatalytic CdO-imbedded ZnO nanopebbles for enhanced biocidal activity
Authors: Karunakaran C , Vijayabalan A
Published: March 2021

CdO-imbedded ZnO nanopebbles have been synthesised by a two-step process. The scanning and transmission electron microscopic images display the morphology and size (62–98 nm). The selected area electron diffractogram reveals the presence cubic CdO and hexagonal ZnO, the latter is confirmed by X-ray diffractogram. Implantation of CdO in ZnO lattice increases the charge transfer resistance. However, the absorption and emission are unaffected by the implanted CdO. The nanopebbles are powerful bactericidal material; the antibacterial activity of nanocrystalline CdO/ZnO is larger than those of CdO and ZnO nanoparticles. Further, CdO-implantation in ZnO nanopebbles does not suppress the photocatalytic activity. Thus, the title material is a powerful bactericide with unsuppressed photocatalytic activity.
Preparation of magnetic manganese ferrite/graphene oxide nanocomposites as efficient adsorbents towards ibuprofen
Authors: Thy Lu Thi Mong , Dang Nguyen Minh , My Nguyen Huong Tra , Tai Le Tan , Tu Tran Hoang , Oanh Doan Thi Yen , Viet Thieu Quang Quoc , Nam Hoang Minh , Hieu Nguyen Huu , Phong Mai Thanh
Published: March 2021

This study aims to prepare in manganese ferrite/graphene oxide (MnFe2O4/GO) nanocomposites for the removal of ibuprofen drug residue from water. The synthesised nanocomposites with various MnFe2O4 content from 30–60 wt.% were characterised by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, Brunauer - Emmett - Teller specific surface area, and energy dispersive X-ray. It was found that the suitable mass ratio of MnFe2O4 in nanocomposite for ibuprofen removal was 50 wt.%. The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum capacity of MnFe2O4/GO was found to be 156.25 mg g−1. Accordingly, the MnFe2O4/GO could be used as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of ibuprofen from water.
Effect of porous corncob on the removal of HCN in cigarette mainstream smoke
Authors: Wang Yipeng , Jia Yunzhen , Sun Xuehui , Sun Peijian , Yang Song , Yan Quanping , Peng Bin , Guo Jizhao , Zhang Xiaobing , Nie Cong
Published: March 2021

In order to reduce the hydrogen cyanide (HCN) release in cigarette mainstream smoke, a new type of porous corncob (PCC) material which was different from traditional corncob-based activated carbon was prepared by a two-step chemical reaction of carboxymethylation and cupric ion complexation. Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that the carboxymethyl group had been introduced onto the corncob, the carboxymethyl content and the cupric ion loading amount were measured. The x-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) results showed that the Cu content on the surface of PCC was much higher than that of the whole material. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption results suggested that PCC had a porous structure. With the increase of the amounts of chloroacetic acid and sodium hydroxide in carboxymethylation reaction and the concentration of cupric ion aqueous solution in complexing reaction, the BET surface areas and pore volumes increased, while the most probable pore sizes of PCCs were close to each other. Compared with the control cigarette, the addition of PCC could effectively remove the HCN release in cigarette mainstream smoke, and the highest reduction rates of HCN per total particulate matter (TPM) was 72.4 %.
Antibacterial, antioxidant and physicochemical investigations of tin dioxide nanoparticles synthesized via microemulsion method
Authors: Haq Sirajul , Ahmad Pervaiz , Khandaker Mayeen Uddin , Faruque M R I , Rehman Wajid , Waseem Muhammad , Din Salah Ud
Published: March 2021

The Tin dioxide nanoparticles (SnO2 NPs) were synthesized by modified microemulsion method and were screened for antibacterial and antioxidant applications. The crystalline nature was explored by using x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and the calculated crystallite size is 24.68 nm. The morphology was examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM) and particles based on TEM image is 79.10 nm. The elemental analysis was performed by energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) and only desired elements was detected. The optical activity was investigated using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and band gap derived via Tauc plot is 2.82 eV. The surface functional moiety was detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The agar well diffusion technique was manipulated to screen the SnO2 NPs against selected bacteria whereas DPPH free radical scavenging activity was also performed. The activity of both samples was noticed to increase with increasing the amount of samples in the experiment. The SnO2 NPs with IC50 value of 1.50 g was found more active than the ascorbic acid with IC50 of 2.42 g.
Experimental study on fast electron generation during internal crash
Authors: MAI Chaowei , HU Liqun , XU Liqing , LUO Zhengping , LIN Shiyao , CHEN Yiping
Published: March 2021

Hard x-ray (HXR) burst is found during internal crash in the flat top current stage of experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST) discharges and it is caused by fast electrons. The generated electrons during internal crashes may be an operational safety issue in advanced tokamaks. During an internal crash, locations of fast electron generation from HXR evolution agree with areas of magnetic reconnection from soft x-ray (SXR) tomographic reconstruction. Further statistical analyses show a 27 μs time difference between SXR crashes and HXR bursts, and the agreement between time broadening of HXR bursts and estimated characteristic time of magnetic reconnection in EAST. The magnetic reconnections during internal crash are proved to generate fast electrons, by both spatial and temporal agreements.
The effect of marrow secretome and culture environment on the rate of metastatic breast cancer cell migration in two and three dimensions
Authors: Curtis Kimberly J. , Mai Christine , Martin Hannah , Oberman Alyssa G. , Alderfer Laura , Romero-Moreno Ricardo , Walsh Mark , Mitros Stephen F. , Thomas Scott G. , Dynako Joseph A. , Zimmer David I. , McNamara Laoise M. , Littlepage Laurie E. , Niebur Glen L.
Published: March 2021

We show that MDA-MB-231 cells migrate to trabecular bone explants with intact marrow faster than to bone devoid of marrow or devitalized bone. Cells also migrated toward bone with intact marrow when cultured in three-dimensional gelatin constructs. They were more likely to migrate in stiff versus soft substrates, but their speed was not affected by stiffness.
Changes in psychological distress before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults: the contribution of frailty transitions and multimorbidity
Authors: Wang Yi , Fu Peipei , Li Jie , Jing Zhengyue , Wang Qiong , Zhao Dan , Zhou Chengchao
Published: March 2021

Aim

To investigate changes in psychological distress in community-dwelling older adults before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the contribution of frailty transitions and multimorbidity in predicting the psychological distress.

Methods

Prospective repeated-measures cohort study on a sample of participants aged 60 and over. A total of 2, 785 respondents at the baseline (May 2019) were followed during the COVID-19 (August 2020). The changes in psychological distress before and during the COVID-19 were assessed using generalised estimation equations with adjusting for sex, age, education, economic status, marital status, tea drinking status, smoking status, alcohol drinking status, sedentary time, sleep quality and activities of daily living.

Results

The psychological distress of older people has significantly increased in August 2020 compared with May 2019. Both older adults who remained frail and transitioned into frail state reported more psychological distress during the COVID-19. Similarly, both pre-existing multimorbidity and emerging multimorbidity groups were associated with more psychological distress. The group of frailty progression who reported new emerging multimorbidity showed more increase in psychological distress in comparison with those who remained in the non-frail state who reported no multimorbidity.

Conclusion

Psychological distress has increased among the community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, and sustained and progressive frail states as well as multimorbidity were all associated with a greater increase of psychological distress. These findings suggest that future public health measures should take into account the increased psychological distress among older people during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the assessment of frailty and multimorbidity might help in warning of psychological distress.
Sheltering in Place and the Likelihood of Nonnatural Death
Authors: Catalano Ralph , Glymour M Maria , Chen Yea-Hung , Bibbins-Domingo Kirsten
Published: March 2021

Increasing hospitalizations for COVID-19 in the United States and elsewhere have ignited debate over whether to reinstate shelter-in-place policies adopted early in the pandemic to slow the spread of infection. The debate includes claims that sheltering in place influences deaths unrelated to infection or other natural causes. Testing this claim should improve the benefit/cost accounting that informs choice on reimposing sheltering in place. We used time-series methods to compare weekly nonnatural deaths in California with those in Florida. California was the first state to begin, and among the last to end, sheltering in place, while sheltering began later and ended earlier in Florida. During weeks when California had shelter-in-place orders in effect, but Florida did not, the odds that a nonnatural death occurred in California rather than Florida were 14.4% below expected levels. Sheltering-in-place policies likely reduce mortality from mechanisms unrelated to infection or other natural causes of death.
Affect-Based Problem Drinking Risk: The Reciprocal Relationship between Affective Lability and Problem Drinking
Authors: Peterson Sarah J , Atkinson Emily A , Riley Elizabeth N , Davis Heather A , Smith Gregory T
Published: March 2021

Aims

Negative affect has been implicated in risk for the development of problematic drinking behavior. Furthermore, there is evidence for reciprocal relationships between negative affect and problem drinking, such that engagement in problem drinking also predicts increases in negative affect. However, affective models of risk often fail to consider affective lability—the experience of rapidly changing mood. Although affective lability appears to increase risk for problem drinking, it is unknown if this relationship persists above and beyond other affect-related constructs (e.g. depression, anxiety) and if it is reciprocal in nature. Accordingly, we used a longitudinal survey design to examine (a) if affective lability predicts problem drinking above and beyond depression and anxiety and (b) if affective lability and problem drinking demonstrate a reciprocal relationship.

Methods

First-year college students (n = 358) participated in a three wave longitudinal study. We constructed a structural equation model (SEM) of a random intercept cross-lagged panel model to test our hypotheses.

Results

Consistent with our hypotheses, affective lability predicted increases in problem drinking while anxiety and depression did not. Problem drinking and affective lability demonstrated a reciprocal relationship in which increases in one predicted increases in the other at subsequent time points. This relationship was present beyond the predictive effects of anxiety or depression.

Conclusions

Affective lability appears to be an important affect-based predictor of problem drinking, and there may be a reciprocal, risk-enhancing relationship between affective lability and problem drinking.

Components of negative affect, such as depression or anxiety, have been shown to predict risk for problem drinking, and vice versa. A less considered construct, affective lability, predicted problem drinking while anxiety and depression did not add any predictive power. Problem drinking and affective lability also appeared to demonstrate a reciprocal relationship.
A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Family Perceptions of Neuropsychological Evaluation and Resources for Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors
Authors: Moscato Emily L , Fisher Allison P , Gies Lisa M , Smith-Paine Julia M , Miley Aimee E , Beebe Dean W , Quinton Thea L , Pai Ahna L H , Salloum Ralph , Wade Shari L
Published: March 2021

Objective

Neuropsychological testing is often recommended for pediatric brain tumor survivors, yet little is known about perceptions of testing and resources. The purpose of this study is to examine survivor and caregiver perceptions about neuropsychology and resources and identify factors associated with receipt of neuropsychological testing.

Method

Survivors and their families (N = 55) completed questionnaires on demographics and family functioning. The Neurological Predictive Scale was used to rate treatment intensity and expected impact on neuropsychological functioning. Chi squares and logistic regression were used to examine the associations between demographic, disease, and treatment factors and receipt of neuropsychological testing. Qualitative interviews (N = 25) were completed with a subset of families and coded with thematic content analysis and a multicoder consensus process with high inter-rater reliability (kappas .91–.93).

Results

The majority of survivors received neuropsychological testing. Survivors were more likely to receive neuropsychological testing if they were younger and if their caregivers had less than a college education and lower income. Qualitatively, families identified neurocognitive concerns. Some families reported that neuropsychological testing was helpful in clarifying deficits or gaining accommodations, while other families had difficulty recalling results or identified barriers to services. To mitigate the impact of deficits, families implemented metacognitive strategies and advocated for their survivor at school. Families desired more resources around the transition to adulthood and more opportunities for connection with other survivors.

Conclusions

Many families valued insights from neuropsychological services yet identified room for further improvement to address barriers and ensure accessibility and comprehensibility of neuropsychological findings.
The role of increased FGF21 in VLDL-TAG secretion and thermogenic gene expression in mice under protein malnutrition
Authors: Ozaki-Masuzawa Yori , Kosaka Hiroki , Abiru Rino , Toda Yumiko , Kawabata Kota , Nagata Mari , Hara Shohei , Konishi Morichika , Itoh Nobuyuki , Hosono Takashi , Takenaka Asako , Seki Taiichiro
Published: March 2021

Protein malnutrition promotes hepatic lipid accumulation in growing animals. In these animals, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) rapidly increases in the liver and circulation and plays a protective role in hepatic lipid accumulation. To investigate the mechanism by which FGF21 protects against liver lipid accumulation under protein malnutrition, we determined whether upregulated FGF21 promotes the thermogenesis or secretion of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)–triacylglycerol (TAG). The results showed that protein malnutrition decreased VLDL-TAG secretion, but the upregulation of FGF21 did not oppose this effect. In addition, protein malnutrition increased expression of the thermogenic gene uncoupling protein 1 in inguinal white adipose and brown adipose tissue in an FGF21-dependent manner. However, surgically removing inguinal white adipose tissue did not affect liver triglyceride levels in protein-malnourished mice. These data suggest that FGF21 stimulates thermogenesis under protein malnutrition, but this is not the causative factor underlying the protective role of FGF21 against liver lipid accumulation.
Early life experience influences dispersal in coyotes (Canis latrans)
Authors: Zepeda Emily , Payne Eric , Wurth Ashley , Sih Andrew , Gehrt Stanley
Published: March 2021

Natal dispersal plays an important role in connecting individual animal behavior with ecological processes at all levels of biological organization. As urban environments are rapidly increasing in extent and intensity, understanding how urbanization influences these long distance movements is critical for predicting the persistence of species and communities. There is considerable variation in the movement responses of individuals within a species, some of which is attributed to behavioral plasticity which interacts with experience to produce interindividual differences in behavior. For natal dispersers, much of this experience occurs in the natal home range. Using data collected from VHF collared coyotes (Canis latrans) in the Chicago Metropolitan Area we explored the relationship between early life experience with urbanization and departure, transience, and settlement behavior. Additionally, we looked at how early life experience with urbanization influenced survival to adulthood and the likelihood of experiencing a vehicle related mortality. We found that coyotes with more developed habitat in their natal home range were more likely to disperse and tended to disperse farther than individuals with more natural habitat in their natal home range. Interestingly, our analysis produced mixed results for the relationship between natal habitat and habitat selection during settlement. Finally, we found no evidence that early life experience with urbanization influenced survival to adulthood or the likelihood of experiencing vehicular mortality. Our study provides evidence that early life exposure influences dispersal behavior; however, it remains unclear how these differences ultimately affect fitness.
The evolution of primate coloration revisited
Authors: Caro Tim , Brockelsby Kasey , Ferrari Annie , Koneru Manisha , Ono Konatsu , Touche Edward , Stankowich Theodore
Published: March 2021

Primates are noted for their varied and complex pelage and bare skin coloration but the significance of this diverse coloration remains opaque. Using new updated information, novel scoring of coat and skin coloration, and controlling for shared ancestry, we reexamined and extended findings from previous studies across the whole order and the five major clades within it. Across primates, we found (i) direct and indirect evidence for pelage coloration being driven by protective coloration strategies including background matching, countershading, disruptive coloration, and aposematism, (ii) diurnal primates being more colorful, and (iii) the possibility that pelage color diversity is negatively associated with female trichromatic vision; while (iv) reaffirming avoidance of hybridization driving head coloration in males, (v) darker species living in warm, humid conditions (Gloger’s rule), and (vi) advertising to multiple mating partners favoring red genitalia in females. Nonetheless, the importance of these drivers varies greatly across clades. In strepsirrhines and cercopithecoids, countershading is important; greater color diversity may be important for conspecific signaling in more diurnal and social strepsirrhines; lack of female color vision may be associated with colorful strepsirrhines and platyrrhines; whereas cercopithecoids obey Gloger’s rule. Haplorrhines show background matching, aposematism, character displacement, and red female genitalia where several mating partners are available. Our findings emphasize several evolutionary drivers of coloration in this extraordinarily colorful order. Throughout, we used coarse but rigorous measures of coloration, and our ability to replicate findings from earlier studies opens up opportunities for classifying coloration of large numbers of species at a macroevolutionary scale.
Framing Migrant Resilience as a Civic Responsibility: A Case Study of Municipal and Provincial Immigrant Integration Policies in Toronto, Ontario
Authors: Bhuyan Rupaleem , Leung Vivian W Y
Published: March 2021

This article presents a case study of how regional and municipal governments in Toronto, Ontario, use the concept of resilience to frame the challenges faced by immigrants and the steps governments are taking to promote immigrant integration. In the past decade, resilience has emerged as a policy framework to encourage positive adaptation of people and institutions that are facing social, economic and environmental challenges associated with population growth and economic globalisation. As a policy discourse, the concept of resilience is used to identify which immigrants need social and psychological support to better cope with pre- and post-migration stressors. Although government discourse acknowledges some of the structural inequities migrants face that require resilience (e.g. poverty, systemic racism, precarious employment), the discourse on migrant resilience notably omits government responsibility to enact structural solutions. Even the City of Toronto’s anti-racism campaign, which seeks to reduce racial bias and discrimination against immigrants, frames ‘civic resilience’ as an individual responsibility. Despite the promise of resilience to emphasise immigrants’ capabilities, we argue that resilience discourse operates as a type of diversity management strategy to identify which immigrants warrant government support to maximise their economic contributions to the region.
CSPα reduces aggregates and rescues striatal dopamine release in α-synuclein transgenic mice
Authors: Caló Laura , Hidari Eric , Wegrzynowicz Michal , Dalley Jeffrey W , Schneider Bernard L , Podgajna Martyna , Anichtchik Oleg , Carlson Emma , Klenerman David , Spillantini Maria Grazia
Published: March 2021

α-Synuclein aggregation at the synapse is an early event in Parkinson’s disease and is associated with impaired striatal synaptic function and dopaminergic neuronal death. The cysteine string protein (CSPα) and α-synuclein have partially overlapping roles in maintaining synaptic function and mutations in each cause neurodegenerative diseases. CSPα is a member of the DNAJ/HSP40 family of co-chaperones and like α-synuclein, chaperones the SNARE complex assembly and controls neurotransmitter release. α-Synuclein can rescue neurodegeneration in CSPαKO mice. However, whether α-synuclein aggregation alters CSPα expression and function is unknown. Here we show that α-synuclein aggregation at the synapse is associated with a decrease in synaptic CSPα and a reduction in the complexes that CSPα forms with HSC70 and STGa. We further show that viral delivery of CSPα rescues in vitro the impaired vesicle recycling in PC12 cells with α-synuclein aggregates and in vivo reduces synaptic α-synuclein aggregates increasing monomeric α-synuclein and restoring normal dopamine release in 1-120hαSyn mice. These novel findings reveal a mechanism by which α-synuclein aggregation alters CSPα at the synapse, and show that CSPα rescues α-synuclein aggregation-related phenotype in 1-120hαSyn mice similar to the effect of α-synuclein in CSPαKO mice. These results implicate CSPα as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of early-stage Parkinson’s disease.
Failure to engage the temporoparietal junction/posterior superior temporal sulcus predicts impaired naturalistic social cognition in schizophrenia
Authors: Patel Gaurav H , Arkin Sophie C , Ruiz-Betancourt Daniel R , Plaza Fabiola I , Mirza Safia A , Vieira Daniel J , Strauss Nicole E , Klim Casimir C , Sanchez-Peña Juan P , Bartel Laura P , Grinband Jack , Martinez Antigona , Berman Rebecca A , Ochsner Kevin N , Leopold David A , Javitt Daniel C
Published: March 2021

Schizophrenia is associated with marked impairments in social cognition. However, the neural correlates of these deficits remain unclear. Here we use naturalistic stimuli to examine the role of the right temporoparietal junction/posterior superior temporal sulcus (TPJ-pSTS)—an integrative hub for the cortical networks pertinent to the understanding complex social situations—in social inference, a key component of social cognition, in schizophrenia. Twenty-seven schizophrenia participants and 21 healthy control subjects watched a clip of the film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly while high resolution multiband functional MRI images were collected. We used inter-subject correlation to measure the evoked activity, which we then compared to social cognition as measured by The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT). We also compared between groups the TPJ-pSTS blood oxygen level-dependent activity (i) relationship with the motion content in the film; (ii) synchronization with other cortical areas involved in the viewing of the movie; and (iii) relationship with the frequency of saccades made during the movie. Activation deficits were greatest in middle TPJ (TPJm) and correlated significantly with impaired TASIT performance across groups. Follow-up analyses of the TPJ-pSTS revealed decreased synchronization with other cortical areas, decreased correlation with the motion content of the movie, and decreased correlation with the saccades made during the movie. The functional impairment of the TPJm, a hub area in the middle of the TPJ-pSTS, predicts deficits in social inference in schizophrenia participants by disrupting the integration of visual motion processing into the TPJ. This disrupted integration then affects the use of the TPJ to guide saccades during the visual scanning of the movie clip. These findings suggest that the TPJ may be a treatment target for improving deficits in a key component of social cognition in schizophrenia participants.
A Bayesian optimization approach for rapidly mapping residual network function in stroke
Authors: Lorenz Romy , Johal Michelle , Dick Frederic , Hampshire Adam , Leech Robert , Geranmayeh Fatemeh
Published: March 2021

Post-stroke cognitive and linguistic impairments are debilitating conditions, with limited therapeutic options. Domain-general brain networks play an important role in stroke recovery and characterizing their residual function with functional MRI has the potential to yield biomarkers capable of guiding patient-specific rehabilitation. However, this is challenging as such detailed characterization requires testing patients on multitudes of cognitive tasks in the scanner, rendering experimental sessions unfeasibly lengthy. Thus, the current status quo in clinical neuroimaging research involves testing patients on a very limited number of tasks, in the hope that it will reveal a useful neuroimaging biomarker for the whole cohort. Given the great heterogeneity among stroke patients and the volume of possible tasks this approach is unsustainable. Advancing task-based functional MRI biomarker discovery requires a paradigm shift in order to be able to swiftly characterize residual network activity in individual patients using a diverse range of cognitive tasks. Here, we overcome this problem by leveraging neuroadaptive Bayesian optimization, an approach combining real-time functional MRI with machine-learning, by intelligently searching across many tasks, this approach rapidly maps out patient-specific profiles of residual domain-general network function. We used this technique in a cross-sectional study with 11 left-hemispheric stroke patients with chronic aphasia (four female, age ± standard deviation: 59 ± 10.9 years) and 14 healthy, age-matched control subjects (eight female, age ± standard deviation: 55.6 ± 6.8 years). To assess intra-subject reliability of the functional profiles obtained, we conducted two independent runs per subject, for which the algorithm was entirely reinitialized. Our results demonstrate that this technique is both feasible and robust, yielding reliable patient-specific functional profiles. Moreover, we show that group-level results are not representative of patient-specific results. Whereas controls have highly similar profiles, patients show idiosyncratic profiles of network abnormalities that are associated with behavioural performance. In summary, our study highlights the importance of moving beyond traditional ‘one-size-fits-all’ approaches where patients are treated as one group and single tasks are used. Our approach can be extended to diverse brain networks and combined with brain stimulation or other therapeutics, thereby opening new avenues for precision medicine targeting a diverse range of neurological and psychiatric conditions.