bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flexible Anion Microbatteries: Towards Construction of a Hybrid Battery–Capacitor Device
Authors: Silambarasan Krishnamoorthy , Joseph James
Published: August 2018

A proof‐of‐principle study is presented on the rechargeable anion storage capability of ferrocyanide immobilized in a polysilsesquioxane (PSQ)‐modified flexible/rigid film for aqueous battery applications. This electrode material delivers high power density up to 140 μWh cm−2 and energy density of 9.4 μWh cm−2 with a long cycle life of more than 200 cycles in chloride ion medium. The proposed energy storage mechanism of this system is based on insertion and extraction of the anion into the [Fe(CN)6]4−−PSQ film during charging and discharging processes, respectively. Moreover, a hybrid battery–capacitor device comprising a graphite rod (capacitor) and the ferrocyanide‐immobilized PSQ film as a faradaic electrode shows enhanced electrochemical performance.
Synergistic Activation of Palladium Nanoparticles by Polyoxometalate‐Attached Melem for Boosting Formic Acid Dehydrogenation Efficiency
Authors: Leng Yan , Zhang Chenjun , Liu Bing , Liu Miaomiao , Jiang Pingping , Dai Sheng
Published: August 2018

Pd nanoparticles (NPs) anchored on a phosphotungstic acid attached melem porous hybrid (PW/melem) were prepared by hybridization of phosphotungstic acid Pd salt and melem, followed by chemical reduction. PW/melem was demonstrated to be an outstanding support that can stabilize and disperse small Pd NPs (2 nm), and significantly boost their efficiency for H2 generation from the dehydrogenation of formic acid (FA). Experimental results and mechanistic investigations indicate that a strong electronic interaction exists between Pd NPs and the PW anions; the PW anions accept electrons from Pd first and, during FA dehydrogenation, the reduced blue PW donates electrons to Pd. Moreover, melem plays an important role in hydrogen transfer and can accelerate H2 generation. The overall synergistic effect of PW and melem endows Pd NPs with extremely high activity and stability for complete FA conversion at 50 °C, achieving a high turnover frequency of 15 393 h−1.
High‐rise concrete and clay block masonry building in Brazil
Authors: Parsekian Guilherme Aris , Medeiros Wallison Angelim , Sipp Gustavo
Published: August 2018

Brazilian structural concrete and clay block masonry construction shares many common features with construction all over the world: blocks of a similar shape are bedded in mortar, vertical and horizontal reinforcement is placed in grouted cells, engineering analysis and design follows universal principles and local design codes mimic those adopted elsewhere. However, loadbearing masonry construction in Brazil has become one of the most preferred high‐rise building systems due to its cost‐effectiveness and ease of construction compared to normal reinforced concrete solutions. This paper provides an overview of loadbearing masonry building in Brazil, including case studies on notable high‐rise masonry structures, with an overview of how Brazilian materials, codes and practices differ from the rest of the world. Finally, the paper explains how the use of high‐strength units assists the growing demand for taller and taller buildings and provides insight into why owners and general contractors often prefer to use structural masonry.
Manufacturer's declarations for harmonised construction products
Authors: Schmidt‐Wottrich Jörg
Published: August 2018

After the judgement of the ECJ in case C‐100/13 from 16 October 2014, no additional national requirements may be issued for construction products with CE‐marking. In order to implement the community requirements in Germany, the Model Building Code was revised by decision of the state building ministers conference of 13 May 2016 and is presently being implemented by the federal states through revisions of the relevant state building codes. Instead of the Construction Products List and the list of technical building rules, the standardised sample administrative regulation ”Technische Baubestimmungen“ (technical building rules, VV TB) has now become valid, which was published on 01 September 2017 by the German institute for building technology, DIBt.

One alternative possibility for the verification of suitability for construction is a manufacturer's declaration based on a requirement document. In this case the requirement document reflects the technical requirements according to standards for the construction product or building type, the fulfilment of which is guaranteed for the specific product in the manufacturer's declaration of the relevant manufacturer. The manufacturer thus accepts liability that his product fulfils the legal requirements. This guarantee declaration under civil law as a supplement to the public building law conforms to European law and is a transparent and practical solution to be able to ensure the achieved level of health protection, environmental acceptability and safety in building practice.
Hair EtG: Alterations in segment levels accompanying hair growth
Authors: Fosen Jan Toralf , Høiseth Gudrun , Sempio Cristina , Giarratana Nefele , Enger Asle , Mørland Jørg , Morini Luca
Published: August 2018

Hair levels of the direct ethanol biomarker ethyl glucuronide (EtG) are used to evaluate history of alcohol intake. The proximal 3 cm of the hair sample is most often analyzed and this is assumed to represent the intake of ethanol over approximately the past three months. The aim of this study was to investigate change of EtG levels during hair growth in an ethanol‐abstinent period. Twenty‐seven patients were recruited from an alcohol treatment clinic. A hair sample was collected after hospitalization and EtG was analyzed in the 0–3 cm hair segment (T1). Another hair sample was collected after one month of abstinence and EtG was analyzed in the 1–4 cm hair segment (T2), discarding the proximal 1 cm (0–1 cm) of the segment. As a result of the segment choice and assuming a hair growth rate of 1 cm per month, T2 should represent roughly the same time of alcohol exposure as segment T1. The median concentration of EtG in T1 was 100 pg/mg (range 7.7–1320) and the median concentration in T2 was 53.4 pg/mg (range < LOQ‐692). EtG concentrations decreased significantly from T1 to T2 (p = 0.003) and the median change in EtG from T1 to T2 was −46.0%. This study shows decreasing EtG concentrations in most subjects in a hair segment during growth when comparing two segments that is assumed to represent roughly the same period of alcohol intake. Further research is needed to confirm if this observed decline of EtG is a result of wash‐out‐effects of EtG or other factors.
A new cognitive bias modification technique to influence risk factors for eating disorders
Authors: Matheson Emily , Wade Tracey D. , Yiend Jenny
Published: August 2018

Objective

Eating disorder psychopathology is associated with a propensity to interpret ambiguous stimuli to be negatively related to one's appearance and self‐worth. The relative impact of modifying interpretation bias for these respective stimuli is unknown. Hence the main aim of the current study was to compare two cognitive bias modification protocols targeting interpretation bias (CBM‐I), one focused on appearance and the other on self‐worth, in terms of impacting interpretation bias, body dissatisfaction and negative affect. The appearance‐based CBM‐I protocol was developed for the current study.

Method

Female university students (N = 123) were randomized into one of three CBM‐I conditions: appearance, self‐worth or control. Immediately following a negative induction that significantly increased body dissatisfaction and negative affect, participants underwent their respective CBM‐I training.

Results

The CBM‐I for appearance produced significant changes in the targeted bias, as well as significant improvements (moderate effect sizes) in appearance satisfaction, relative to the CBM‐I for self‐worth and control conditions.

Discussion

The results support the usefulness of the CBM‐I for appearance protocol, and suggests that this technique warrants further investigation with respect to modifying interpretation bias and risk factors associated with eating disorder psychopathology. Null effects of CBM‐I for self‐worth should be interpreted in light of study limitations, including the potential unsuitability of training material for young women. CBM‐I for both types of interpretation bias should be evaluated in future research.
Male mate preference as an agent of fecundity selection in a polymorphic salamander
Authors: Jaworski Kortney E. , Lattanzio Matthew S. , Hickerson Cari‐Ann M. , Anthony Carl D.
Published: August 2018

Color polymorphisms are associated with variation in other traits which may affect individual fitness, and these color‐trait associations are expected to contribute to nonrandom mating in polymorphic species. The red‐backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) exhibits a polymorphism in dorsal pattern: striped and unstriped, and previous studies have suggested that they may mate nonrandomly. However, the mechanism(s) contributing to this behavior remain unclear. Here we consider the role that male preference may have in driving mating behavior in P. cinereus. We limit our focus to striped individuals because this morph is most likely to be choosy given their dominant, aggressive behavioral profiles relative to unstriped males. Specifically, we evaluated (a) whether striped males preferentially associate with females with respect to her dorsum color, size, and body condition and (b) if so, whether female traits are evaluated via visual or chemical cues. We also considered whether the frequency of another male social behavior, nose taps, was associated with mate preferences. We found that striped male P. cinereus nose tapped more often to preferred females. However, males only assessed potential mates via chemical cues, preferring larger females overall. Reproductive phenology data on a sample of gravid females drawn from the same population indicated that the color morphs do not differ in reproductive traits, but larger females have greater fecundity. Given our findings, we conclude that female P. cinereus are under fecundity selection, mediated by male preference. In this manner, male mating behavior contributes to observations of nonrandom mate associations in this population of P. cinereus.
Toward an ecoregion scale evaluation of eDNA metabarcoding primers: A case study for the freshwater fish biodiversity of the Murray–Darling Basin (Australia)
Authors: Bylemans Jonas , Gleeson Dianne M. , Hardy Christopher M. , Furlan Elise
Published: August 2018

High‐throughput sequencing of environmental DNA (i.e., eDNA metabarcoding) has become an increasingly popular method for monitoring aquatic biodiversity. At present, such analyses require target‐specific primers to amplify DNA barcodes from co‐occurring species, and this initial amplification can introduce biases. Understanding the performance of different primers is thus recommended prior to undertaking any metabarcoding initiative. While multiple software programs are available to evaluate metabarcoding primers, all programs have their own strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, a robust in silico workflow for the evaluation of metabarcoding primers will benefit from the use of multiple programs. Furthermore, geographic differences in species biodiversity are likely to influence the performance of metabarcoding primers and further complicate the evaluation process. Here, an in silico workflow is presented that can be used to evaluate the performance of metabarcoding primers on an ecoregion scale. This workflow was used to evaluate the performance of published and newly developed eDNA metabarcoding primers for the freshwater fish biodiversity of the Murray–Darling Basin (Australia). To validate the in silico workflow, a subset of the primers, including one newly designed primer pair, were used in metabarcoding analyses of an artificial DNA community and eDNA samples. The results show that the in silico workflow allows for a robust evaluation of metabarcoding primers and can reveal important trade‐offs that need to be considered when selecting the most suitable primer. Additionally, a new primer pair was described and validated that allows for more robust taxonomic assignments and is less influenced by primer biases compared to commonly used fish metabarcoding primers.
Effect of plant root symbionts on performance of native woody species in competition with an invasive grass in multispecies microcosms
Authors: Birnbaum Christina , Morald Tim K. , Tibbett Mark , Bennett Richard G. , Standish Rachel J.
Published: August 2018

The majority of terrestrial plants form mutualistic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobia (i.e., nitrogen‐fixing bacteria). Understanding these associations has important implications for ecological theory and for restoration practice. Here, we tested whether the presence of AMF and rhizobia influences the performance of native woody plants invaded by a non‐native grass in experimental microcosms. We planted eight plant species (i.e., Acacia acuminata, A. microbotrya, Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. loxophleba, E. astringens, Calothamnus quadrifidus, Callistemon phoeniceus, Hakea lissocarpha and H. prostrata) in microcosms of field‐conditioned soil with and without addition of AMF and rhizobia in a fully factorial experimental design. After seedling establishment, we seeded half the microcosms with an invasive grass Bromus diandrus. We measured shoot and root biomass of native plants and Bromus, and on roots, the percentage colonization by AMF, number of rhizobia‐forming nodules and number of proteaceous root clusters. We found no effect of plant root symbionts or Bromus addition on performance of myrtaceous, and as predicted, proteaceous species as they rely little or not at all on AMF and rhizobia. Soil treatments with AMF and rhizobia had a strong positive effect (i.e., larger biomass) on native legumes (A. microbotrya and A. acuminata). However, the beneficial effect of root symbionts on legumes became negative (i.e., lower biomass and less nodules) if Bromus was present, especially for one legume, i.e., A. acuminata, suggesting a disruptive effect of the invader on the mutualism. We also found a stimulating effect of Bromus on root nodule production in A. microbotrya and AMF colonization in A. acuminata which could be indicative of legumes’ increased resource acquisition requirement, i.e., for nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively, in response to the Bromus addition. We have demonstrated the importance of measuring belowground effects because the aboveground effects gave limited indication of the effects occurring belowground.
A review of macroinvertebrate‐ and fish‐based stream health modelling techniques
Authors: Hernandez‐Suarez J. Sebastian , Nejadhashemi A. Pouyan
Published: August 2018

During the last three decades, explaining cause–effect relationships between natural and anthropogenic disturbances with measures of stream health have motivated the growing application of statistical, machine learning, and soft computing methods. The aim of this review is to provide insight into the most widely used methods for predicting biological variables based on macroinvertebrate and fish species in riverine ecosystems. Therefore, we describe several methods including multiple linear regression, generalized linear models, generalized additive models, boosted regression trees, random forests, artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic‐based, and Bayesian belief networks along with recent applications of these. Moreover, issues regarding variable selection, model interpretability, ensemble modelling, and model evaluation and overfitting are discussed. Recent advances have suggested the need for integrated modelling systems to enhance the predictive ability and improve interpretability. However, trade‐offs between model complexity and accuracy demand research efforts in uncertainty quantification/propagation in model ensembles. Additionally, models should be perceived as complementary tools that require further validation with field measurements. Therefore, a consensus regarding monitoring and modelling practices for stream health applications is recommended.
Iron deficiency in chronic heart failure: case‐based practical guidance
Authors: Lam Carolyn S. P. , Doehner Wolfram , Comin‐Colet Josep ,   on behalf of the IRON CORE Group
Published: August 2018

In patients with chronic heart failure, iron deficiency, even in the absence of anaemia, can aggravate the underlying disease and have a negative impact on clinical outcomes and quality of life. The 2016 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure recognize iron deficiency as a co‐morbidity in chronic heart failure and recommend iron status screening in all newly diagnosed patients with chronic heart failure. Furthermore, the guidelines specifically recommend considerations of intravenous iron therapy, ferric carboxymaltose, for the treatment of iron deficiency. However, in spite of these recommendations, iron deficiency remains often overlooked and undertreated. This may be due, in part, to the lack of clinical context and practical guidance accompanying the guidelines for the treating physician. Here, we provide practical guidance complemented by a case study to assist and improve the timely diagnosis, treatment, and routine management of iron deficiency in patients with chronic heart failure.
Paths to expansion: Differential requirements of IRF4 in CD8+ T‐cell expansion driven by antigen and homeostatic cytokines
Authors: Lugli Enrico , Brummelman Jolanda , Pilipow Karolina , Roychoudhuri Rahul
Published: August 2018

Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) regulates the clonal expansion and metabolic activity of activated T cells, but the precise context and mechanisms of its function in these processes are unclear. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Miyakoda et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2018. 48: 1319–1328] show that IRF4 is required for activation and expansion of naïve and memory CD8+ T cells driven by T‐cell receptor (TCR) signaling, but dispensable for memory CD8+ T‐cell maintenance and homeostatic proliferation driven by homeostatic cytokines. The authors show that the function of IRF4 in CD8+ T‐cell expansion is partially dependent upon activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway through direct or indirect attenuation of PTEN expression. These data shed light upon the differential intracellular pathways required for naïve and memory T cells to respond to self‐antigens and/or homeostatic cytokines, and highlight the potential translational relevance of these findings in the context of immune reconstitution such as following allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Association between two painful and poorly understood conditions: Irritable bowel and sensitive skin syndromes
Authors: Misery Laurent , Duboc Henri , Coffin Benoit , Brenaut Emilie , Huet Flavien , Taieb Charles
Published: August 2018

Background

Irritable bowel and sensitive skin syndromes are common painful conditions that are poorly understood, with alterations of the peripheral (and possibly central) nervous system that lead to a lowering of perception thresholds as the main pathophysiological mechanism.

Methods

A cross‐sectional epidemiological study was carried out on a representative sample of French people, according to the quota method using a questionnaire.

Results

Among the 5,000 respondents, 48.9% were men and 51.1% were women. According to the adapted Rome questionnaire, 14.6% suffered from irritable bowel syndrome. A total of 59.1% declared very sensitive or sensitive skin. A total of 73.1% of subjects had irritable bowel syndrome versus 52.3% in the other group without an irritable colon (p < 0.001). Similarly, the frequency of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms was associated with the severity of sensitive skin syndrome. The presence of sensitive skin was highly associated with the presence of abdominal pain or discomfort, with an OR of 1.93 after adjustment for sex and age.

Conclusions

This study is the first study showing an association between sensitive skin and irritable bowel syndromes. Sensory symptoms are predominant in these two syndromes and transit disorders in one case and vasomotor disorders in the other could probably be considered as pathophysiological equivalents.

Significance

The demonstration of the association between these two syndromes can open new pathophysiological or even therapeutic pathways, since dysfunctional nerve endings and/or increased release of some neurotransmitters are likely involved.
Social devaluation of African Americans and race‐related conspiracy theories
Authors: Davis James , Wetherell Geoffrey , Henry P.J.
Published: August 2018

African Americans in the United States endorse conspiracy theories at greater rates than Whites. The extant literature explains this pattern in terms of a rational motivation to blame the social system for prejudice and discrimination. However, little research distinguishes between race‐relevant conspiracy theories against African Americans and general conspiracy theories. We propose that African Americans may seek out race‐relevant conspiracy theories in particular because they satisfy a search for meaning that is brought about by chronic social devaluation. We present two studies that examine this social devaluation hypothesis. In Study 1 African Americans endorsed race‐relevant conspiracy theories, even when controlling for perceptions of discrimination, an aspect of system blame. Study 2 employed an experimental affirmation of social value that significantly reduced African Americans' endorsement of race‐relevant conspiracy theories consistent with the social devaluation hypothesis. These data indicate that there may be psychologically adaptive features of race‐relevant conspiracy theory endorsement.
Monolithic column functionalized with quinine derivative for anion‐exchange capillary electrochromatography
Authors: Mao Zhenkun , Qin Xiaoning , Chen Zilin
Published: August 2018

A novel anion‐exchange organic polymer monolithic column based on monomers N‐benzylquininium chloride and acrylamide were firstly prepared by in situ copolymerization for capillary electrochromatography. Moreover, N‐benzylquininium was firstly introduced as a strong anion‐exchange functional group. A relatively strong anodic EOF was obtained in the pH values from 4.0 to 9.0, which was in the same direction with the electrophoretic mobility of acid compounds. Hence, the anion‐exchange monolithic column was very suitable for the rapid separation of acid compounds. Eight acid compounds (2‐chlorobenzoic acid, mandelic acid, 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid, indole‐3‐acetic acid, 2‐aminoterephthalic acid, 3,5‐pyridinedicarboxylic acid, benzoic acid, and 4‐aminobenzoic acid) were successfully separated on the monolithic column. The highest column efficiency was 4.60 × 105 plates/m (theoretical plates, N) for 3,5‐pyridinedicarboxylic acid. The proposed monolithic column was characterized by SEM and FT‐IR. The RSDs of the acid compounds migration time for run‐to‐run, day‐to‐day, and column‐to‐column were all less than 5.0%.
Recent progress of sample stacking in capillary electrophoresis (2016–2018)
Authors: Šlampová Andrea , Malá Zdena , Gebauer Petr
Published: August 2018

Electrophoretic sample stacking comprises a group of capillary electrophoretic techniques where trace analytes from the sample are concentrated into a short zone (stack). This paper is a continuation of our previous reviews on the topic and brings a survey of more than 120 papers published approximately since the second quarter of 2016 till the first quarter of 2018. It is organized according to the particular stacking principles and includes chapters on concentration adjustment (Kohlrausch) stacking, on stacking techniques based on pH changes, on stacking in electrokinetic chromatography and on other stacking techniques. Where available, explicit information is given about the procedure, electrolyte(s) used, detector employed and sensitivity reached. Not reviewed are papers on transient isotachophoresis which are covered by another review in this issue.
Analysis of inorganic cations and amino acids in high salinity samples by capillary electrophoresis and conductivity detection: Implications for in‐situ exploration of ocean worlds
Authors: Ferreira Santos Mauro Sergio , Cordeiro Thiago Gomes , Noell Aaron C. , Garcia Carlos D. , Mora Maria F.
Published: August 2018

With growing interest in exploring ocean worlds, such as Europa and Enceladus, there is a fundamental need to develop liquid‐based analytical techniques capable of handling high salinity samples while performing both bulk and trace species measurements. In this context, CE with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (CE–C4D) has tremendous potential. One of its advantages is that this combination allows the detection of a wide number of charged species (both organic and inorganic) without the need of derivatization. Amino acids are an example of organic targets that are powerful biosignatures in the search for life beyond Earth. Simultaneous information on the inorganic cations in a sample helps with assessing the habitability of an extraterrestrial environment, as well as providing sample context for any measurements of trace amino acids. In this work, we present a series of flight‐compatible methods capable of simultaneously measuring inorganic cations and amino acids in samples of varying salinity by CE–C4D. Regardless of the sample total salinity, 5.0 M acetic acid was selected as the optimum BGE. The methods were evaluated by analyzing natural samples of low and high salinity from Hot Creek Gorge, Mono Lake, and Santa Monica beach. Prospects for mission implementation are also discussed.
Experimental Investigation on the Production Behaviors of Methane Hydrate in Sandy Sediments by Different Depressurization Strategies
Authors: Lv Tao , Li Xiaosen , Chen Zhaoyang , Sun Duo , Zhang Yu , Yan Kefeng , Cai Jing
Published: August 2018

The depressurization method is one of the most promising methods for the exploitation of hydrate reservoirs and has been conducted in several field tests. In this work, the production behaviors of methane hydrate in sand sediments by different depressurization strategies were comparatively investigated using a cubic hydrate simulator (CHS) with a capacity of 5.832 L. The experimental conditions are based on the hydrate reservoirs parameters of the South China Sea. The results indicate that the hydrate dissociation rate is related to production pressure and heat conduction between the sediments and the surroundings. Some hydrate form again at the beginning of depressurization and the progress of hydrate dissociation during stable depressurization stage is basically along with the P−T curve. The cumulative amounts of gas production are almost the same, affirming it depends on the final depressurization amplitude, and less water produced when a short shut‐in period is conducted before hydrate dissociation. Compared to single‐step depressurization strategy, the multistep depressurization possesses a more well‐distributed gas production, and the sensible heat of sediments contributes less to hydrate dissociation. Despite the production period is longer, its temperature over the whole production process is higher, which has the potential to reduce the secondary hydrate formation and the damage of wellbore and sediments effectively in actual hydrate production.
Illness pathways between eating disorder and post‐traumatic stress disorder symptoms: Understanding comorbidity with network analysis
Authors: Vanzhula Irina A. , Calebs Benjamin , Fewell Laura , Levinson Cheri A.
Published: August 2018

Eating disorders (EDs) and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly comorbid. However, specific mechanisms by which PTSD‐ED comorbidity is maintained are unknown. The current study constructed two PTSD‐ED comorbidity networks (25 EDs and 17 PTSD symptoms) in two samples: a clinical (N = 158 individuals with an ED diagnosis) and a nonclinical sample (N = 300 college students). Glasso networks were constructed to identify (1) pathways between disorders (bridge symptoms) and (2) core symptoms. Three illness pathways emerged: between binge eating and irritability, between desire for a flat stomach and disturbing dreams, and between concentration problems and weight and shape‐related concentration problems. Our findings suggest that pathways between binge eating and irritability, body dissatisfaction and trauma reminders, and concentration difficulties may be the mechanisms by which comorbidity is maintained. Interventions disrupting these pathways and targeting core and bridge symptoms may be more efficient than traditional treatment approaches.
Reserve before transmit (RBT): VLC MAC layer frame structure for 5G indoor internet applications
Authors: Amjad Madiha , Qureshi Hassaan Khaliq , Jangsher Sobia
Published: August 2018

For achieving high bandwidth, fast, and robust communication in 5G, multiple technologies are needed to work under heterogeneous networks. Visible light communication, due to its high bandwidth, low latency, and small interference area, will be a significant part of 5G along with mmwave. In this paper, a new frame structure has been proposed that implements reserve before transmit scheme. In this scheme, the active portion of the frame starts with contention access‐based reservation period (RP) followed by access point response (RES Reply) and TDMA‐based guaranteed time slots for successful nodes. In contrast to fixed slot assignment in TDMA, contention‐based reservation avoids idle slot wastage due to fixed allotment. Moreover, small reserve packets keep medium busy for a short time, the benefit of which is a lower probability of failed channel access. The proposed scheme has been compared with IEEE 802.15.7 for a sufficiently large length of RP. A Markov model of the system has been developed for analyzing the effect of RP length on the network performance. The result depicts that reserve before transmit–based frame structure provides an increase of 170% in reliability and decrease of 80% in channel access delay as compared to existing IEEE 802.15.7 CSMA/CA‐based access.
Linking humans to food webs: a framework for the classification of global fisheries
Authors: Bieg Carling , McCann Kevin S , McMeans Bailey C , Rooney Neil , Holtgrieve Gordon W , Lek Sovan , Bun Ngor Peng , KC Krishna B , Fraser Evan
Published: August 2018

There is a widely acknowledged need to explicitly include humans in our conceptual and mathematical models of food webs. However, a simple and generalized method for incorporating humans into fisheries food webs has yet to be established. We developed a simple graphical framework for defining whole‐system inland fishery food webs that includes a continuum of fishery behaviors. This range of behaviors mimics those of generalist to specialist predators, which differentially influence ecosystem diversity, sustainability, and functioning. Fishery behaviors in this food‐web context are predicted to produce a range of “fishery types” – from targeted (ie specialist) to multispecies (ie generalist) inland fisheries – and relate to the socioeconomic status of fishery participants. Fishery participants in countries with low Human Development Index (HDI) values are highly connected through fisheries food webs relative to humans in more developed countries. Our framework shows that fisheries can occupy a variety of roles within a food‐web model and may thereby affect food‐web stability in different ways. This realization could help to improve sustainable fisheries management at a global scale.
Marine partially protected areas: drivers of ecological effectiveness
Authors: Zupan Mirta , Fragkopoulou Eliza , Claudet Joachim , Erzini Karim , Horta e Costa Bárbara , Gonçalves Emanuel J
Published: August 2018

The number of marine protected areas (MPAs) has grown exponentially worldwide over the past decade in order to meet international targets. Most of these protected areas allow extraction of resources and are therefore designated as “partially protected areas” (PPAs). However, the effectiveness of PPAs remains unclear due to the high variability of use types permitted. Here, we carried out what we believe to be the first global meta‐analysis of PPAs using a regulation‐based classification system for MPAs to assess their ecological effectiveness. This novel classification allows for unambiguous differentiation between areas according to allowed use, which is the key feature determining PPA performance. Highly and moderately regulated areas exhibited higher biomass and abundance of commercial fish species, whereas fish abundance and biomass in weakly regulated areas differed little from unprotected areas. Notably, the effectiveness of moderately regulated areas can be enhanced by the presence of an adjacent fully protected area. We concluded that limited and well‐regulated uses in PPAs and the presence of an adjacent fully protected area confer ecological benefits, from which socioeconomic advantages are derived.
Moving Health Upstream in Urban Development: Reflections on the Operationalization of a Transdisciplinary Case Study
Authors: Black Daniel , Scally Gabriel , Orme Judy , Hunt Alistair , Pilkington Paul , Lawrence Roderick , Ebi Kristie
Published: August 2018

This paper describes the development, conceptualization, and implementation of a transdisciplinary research pilot, the aim of which is to understand how human and planetary health could become a priority for those who control the urban development process. Key challenges include a significant dislocation between academia and the real world, alongside systemic failures in valuation and assessment mechanisms. The National Institutes of Health four‐phase model of transdisciplinary team‐based research is drawn on and adapted to reflect on what has worked well and what has not operationally. Results underscore the need for experienced academics open to new collaborations and ways of working; clarity of leadership without compromising exploration; clarification of the poorly understood “impacts interface” and navigation toward effective real world impact; acknowledgement of the additional time and resource required for transdisciplinary research and “nonacademic” researchers. Having practitioner‐researchers as part of the research leadership team requires rigourous reflective practice and effective management, but it can also ensure breadth in transdisciplinary outlook as well as constant course correction toward real‐world impact. It is important for the research community to understand better the opportunities and limitations provided by knowledge intermediaries in terms of function, specialism, and experience.
Valuation of CCS investment in China's coal‐fired power plants based on a compound real options model
Authors: Wang Xiping , Zhang Hongdou
Published: August 2018

A two‐stage compound real options model is proposed to evaluate carbon capture and storage (CCS) investment decision making from the perspective of coal‐fired power plants, considering the phased nature of CCS technology. A newly built coal‐fired power plant is used as a case study for the application of the compound real options model. The results indicate that the compound real options approach has an advantage over both the traditional net present value (NPV) and single‐option method when handling multistage investments. Although the present carbon price level is not high enough to encourage CCS investment, the critical carbon price will decrease when considering the upside potential inherent in the CCS investment. Further analyses indicate that the timing of the second phase of a CCS project and other factors will also affect the critical carbon price and the value of a CCS investment. These findings will be useful for decision making associated with CCS investment, and related policy making in an uncertain environment. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reflecting on the clean energy ministerial (CEM 9)
Authors: Cozier Muriel
Published: August 2018

Perhaps carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) has been somewhat sidelined as it was seen as the rather expensive cousin in the “greenhouse gas abatement” family. But during May 2018 at the 9th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM 9), rather than being a side event, CCUS was at the top table as energy ministers from around the world met to put in place an initiative that would protect the world from the negative impact of rising temperatures. Indeed, the lead up the CEM 9 was a time for a number of major announcements related to CCUS. With the US taking a strong lead, is CCS about to come of age? GHGS&T's Muriel Cozier reports. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
From simultaneous to synergistic MR‐PET brain imaging: A review of hybrid MR‐PET imaging methodologies
Authors: Chen Zhaolin , Jamadar Sharna D. , Li Shenpeng , Sforazzini Francesco , Baran Jakub , Ferris Nicholas , Shah Nadim Jon , Egan Gary F.
Published: August 2018

Simultaneous Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning is a recent major development in biomedical imaging. The full integration of the PET detector ring and electronics within the MR system has been a technologically challenging design to develop but provides capacity for simultaneous imaging and the potential for new diagnostic and research capability. This article reviews state‐of‐the‐art MR‐PET hardware and software, and discusses future developments focusing on neuroimaging methodologies for MR‐PET scanning. We particularly focus on the methodologies that lead to an improved synergy between MRI and PET, including optimal data acquisition, PET attenuation and motion correction, and joint image reconstruction and processing methods based on the underlying complementary and mutual information. We further review the current and potential future applications of simultaneous MR‐PET in both systems neuroscience and clinical neuroimaging research. We demonstrate a simultaneous data acquisition protocol to highlight new applications of MR‐PET neuroimaging research studies.
School starting age and long‐run health in the United States
Authors: Arnold Grace , Depew Briggs
Published: August 2018

School starting age has been shown to have long‐run effects that persist throughout adolescence and into adulthood. Using variation from state‐level school starting age laws in the United States, we find that males who are older when they enter school are more likely to have higher levels of self‐reported health later in life. We are largely able to rule out education and labor market outcomes as significant channels for this finding. Building from the previous studies that have found conflicting evidence on the effect of school starting age on educational attainment and labor market outcomes in the United States, we find that school starting age decreases the likelihood of high school completion among males but has no significant effect for females. We do not find that labor market outcomes are affected by school starting age.
L‐Carnitine Suppresses Loss of Skeletal Muscle Mass in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis
Authors: Ohara Masatsugu , Ogawa Koji , Suda Goki , Kimura Megumi , Maehara Osamu , Shimazaki Tomoe , Suzuki Kazuharu , Nakamura Akihisa , Umemura Machiko , Izumi Takaaki , Kawagishi Naoki , Nakai Masato , Sho Takuya , Natsuizaka Mitsuteru , Morikawa Kenichi , Ohnishi Shunsuke , Sakamoto Naoya
Published: August 2018

Liver cirrhosis (LC) is a major cause of secondary sarcopenia. Sarcopenia makes the prognosis worse; thus, novel therapeutic options for sarcopenia in patients with LC are urgently required as they are currently limited. In this retrospective study, 158 patients with LC were screened, and 35 of those patients who were treated with L‐carnitine for more than 6 months and for whom skeletal muscle mass changes could be evaluated by computer tomography were enrolled. Of the 158 patients, 79 patients who did not receive L‐carnitine supplementation served as controls. Cases and controls were propensity score matched for age, sex, presence of hepatocellular carcinoma, and branched chain amino acid administration, and changes in skeletal muscle mass and clinical data were compared. The 35 patients who received L‐carnitine supplementation and 35 propensity score‐matched patients who did not receive carnitine supplementation comprised the final enrollment. Compared with control patients, patients who received L‐carnitine had significantly worse liver function, which is associated with rapid progress of skeletal muscle depletion. However, loss of skeletal muscle mass was significantly suppressed in patients receiving L‐carnitine, and a significant effect was observed in patient subgroups stratified by age, sex, presence of hepatocellular carcinoma, and branched chain amino acid administration. The change ratios of most laboratory data, including vitamin D and insulin‐like growth factor 1 levels, were similar in the two groups, but ammonia levels were significantly less in those receiving L‐carnitine. However, even in patients receiving L‐carnitine but not showing an ammonia decrease, loss of skeletal muscle was significantly suppressed. Conclusion: L‐carnitine suppresses loss of skeletal muscle mass and may therefore be a novel therapeutic option for sarcopenia in patients with LC. (Hepatology Communications 2018; 00:000‐000)
“I Miss My Liver.” Nonmedical Sources in the History of Hepatocentrism
Authors: Orlandi Riccardo , Cianci Nicole , Invernizzi Pietro , Cesana Giancarlo , Riva Michele Augusto
Published: August 2018

Hepatocentrism was a medical doctrine that considered the liver the center of the whole human being. It originated in ancient populations (Mesopotamic civilization) and persisted in Western countries until the seventeenth century. Hidden references to hepatocentrism may be found in artistic representations and literary works, from the myth of Prometheus in the Greco‐Roman world to the crucifixion iconography throughout the Middle Ages. In the mid‐1600s, fundamental discoveries irrefutably demonstrated the central role of the heart in human physiology, which laid the foundations for creating cardiocentrism, shifting the life's center from the liver to the heart. The advent of cardiocentrism immediately restricted the importance given to the liver, favoring the heart in the fine arts. Nevertheless, the liver maintained its importance in literature and popular belief as is evidenced by the widely acclaimed literary texts “Snow White” by the Brothers Grimm, “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville, and “Ode to the Liver” by Pablo Neruda. Our aim is to analyze the most significant artistic representations and literary works that contain references to hepatocentrism, evaluating the changing ideas and beliefs regarding the role and function of the liver throughout history. We want to underline the tight relationship between art and medicine; fine art and literature could be a valuable source for understanding the history of hepatology. (Hepatology Communications 2018; 00:000‐000)
Public hospital reform in Turkey: The “public hospital union” case (2012‐2017)
Authors: Küçük Aziz
Published: August 2018

The issue of public hospital reform in Turkey was raised in the mid‐1980s due to the desire to restrict public expenditures for health care services. In the last 30 years, transformations of public hospitals into health enterprises with administrative and financial autonomy have been attempted in various ways. The process of subjecting public hospitals to reform evolved into the provincial “public hospital unions” model with the Decree Law No. 663 in November 2011. However, this model, which was created to use resources effectively and efficiently in the field of health, was terminated in 2017. The purpose of this study is to review and evaluate the “public hospital union” model of public hospital reform implemented between 2012 and 2017 as an integrated part of reforms in the Turkish health care system and to examine the factors and obstacles that led to the failure of this model. The level of autonomy, in terms of key management functions of unions and hospitals, was analyzed using the toolkit proposed by Chawla et al (1996), and Preker and Harding (2003). In the study, it is asserted that instead of autonomization and decentralization, such organizational reforms result in centralization and political control.
Prevalence, awareness, and treatment of depressive symptoms among the middle‐aged and elderly in China from 2008 to 2015
Authors: Wang Qun , Tian Wenyao
Published: August 2018

Introduction

This study aimed at exploring the temporal trend of prevalence, awareness, and treatment of depressive symptoms among the middle‐aged and elderly in China from 2008 to 2015, as well as depicting how many respondents suffered from persistent depression, whether they were aware of and how they coped with such persistent conditions over time.

Methods

This study used the 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015 data of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. We used descriptive statistics for data analysis.

Results

The prevalence of depressive symptoms among the middle‐aged and elderly in China remained relatively stable at 32% to 37% from 2008 to 2015. Only less than 5% of those with depressive symptoms were aware of their conditions and less than 2% sought care over time. We also observed that persistent depression was very severe among the respondents and most of those with persistent conditions were still not aware of nor seek any care for the symptoms.

Conclusion

Despite of the continuous efforts done by the Chinese government, depression in China is still in poor management. The Chinese government needs to first understand why and how the continuous government efforts do not turn into actual effects of depression management.
Effect of the treatment‐before‐deposit policy on trust in physicians and perceived service quality among patients in 12 hospitals in China
Authors: Lee Shinduk , Wang Wenxin , Washburn David J. , Shi Hongmei , Yu Yue , Du Yuxian , Zhang Hao , Maddock Jay E.
Published: August 2018

This study examined effects of the treatment‐before‐deposit policy on Chinese patients' trust in physicians and perceived service quality. This study included 3313 patients recruited from 12 hospitals in China. The research team used cross‐sectional survey to examine Chinese patients' experience with the treatment‐before‐deposit policy, perceived service quality, and trust in their physicians. Using mediation analysis, we estimated direct and indirect effects of the treatment‐before‐deposit policy on patients' perceived service quality and trust in their physicians. Patients who benefitted from the treatment‐before‐deposit policy reported greater service quality and higher trust in their physicians. The impacts of whether patients benefitted from the policy on trust in physicians were fully mediated by perceived service quality with statistically significant indirect effect. The results support the hypothesis that the treatment‐before‐deposit policy improves patients' perceived service quality and trust in physicians.