bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A two‐stage decision framework for inland nuclear power plant site selection based on GIS and type‐2 fuzzy PROMETHEE II: Case study in China
Authors: Wu Yunna , Liu Fangtong , Huang Yong , Xu Chuanbo , Zhang Buyuan , Ke Yiming , Jia Weibing 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSite selection is a critical strategic decision for inland nuclear power plants which have broad prospects of development. However, several shortcomings exist in current researches, such as the incomplete decision frameworks, the indiscriminately treated properties, and the information loss. To handle the above flaws, this study establishes a two‐stage site selection framework. In the first stage, the geographic information system and preselection criteria are applied to identify suitable alternative sites. And in the second stage, the interval type‐2 fuzzy PROMETHEE II and suitability criteria are utilized to rank alternatives and select the optimal site, where different preference functions are selected accordingly. Thereinto, the interval type‐2 fuzzy numbers are adopted to describe the uncertainty and vagueness in calculation, without being transformed to exact value. Finally, based on the proposed two‐stage decision framework, a case of Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi provinces is studied, to demonstrate its validity and practicability. The results show that S8 is selected as the optimal site for its strong government support, convenient fuel transport, and land availability. This study not only enriches the material databases for inland nuclear power plant site selection, but also offers theoretical reference for site selection studies of various objects.
Monitoring and correction of the stress in an anchor bolt based on Pulse Pre‐Pumped Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis
Authors: Liu Qi , Chai Jing , Chen Shaojie , Zhang Dingding , Yuan Qiang , Wang Shuai 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBolt is an important connection in underground construction and monitoring its stress characteristics is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of bolt. The strain information collected along a rock bolt reveals the long‐term movement characteristics of rock mass, which greatly helps toward disaster prevention and risk warning. Grooving on the surface of a bolt and embedding an optical fiber is one of the main methods for monitoring the anchorage performance and stress distribution around the bolt in underground engineering. In this study, Pulse Pre‐Pumped Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis (PPP‐BOTDA) technology is used to evaluate the stress, axial force, and shear stress distribution of the bolt under tensile load for different types (grooved and nongrooved) of bolts embedded in concrete with resin as anchoring agent. The results show that the PPP‐BOTDA sensor can be used to monitor the stress state of the bolt embedded in concrete with resin as anchoring agent when the bolt is subjected to a tensile force. However, the apparent stress value measured in this way is not the actual stress value of the bolt, but is an increased value caused due to the groove. The closer to the exposed end of the bolt, the greater is the deviation between the apparent stress value and the actual stress value of the bolt. Based on the monitoring results from this experimental study, a stress reduction calculation method is proposed, which can change the measured value into the actual stress of the bolt.
Thermal management for prevention of failures of lithium ion battery packs in electric vehicles: A review and critical future aspects
Authors: Aswin Karthik Chandrasekaran , Kalita Pankaj , Cui Xujian , Peng Xiongbin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe major concerns with Lithium‐ion batteries failures are temperature rise and temperature non‐uniformity during adverse operating conditions like fast charging/discharging and extreme ambient conditions (extreme hot/cold weather). These problems lead to safety issues like thermal runaway of the battery pack. To negate these issues and to ensure better performance of the battery pack, battery thermal management system (BTMS) is adopted in EVs. The prominent BTMSs are air‐based BTMS, liquid‐based BTMS and phase change based BTMS. This paper collates various thermal management issues and numerous cooling methods developed to mitigate these problems and throws light on some of the research gaps on recovery and utilization of low‐grade heat generated in the battery pack.
Feeding Ecology Drives Lead Exposure of Facultative and Obligate Avian Scavengers in the Eastern United States
Authors: Slabe Vincent A. , Anderson James T. , Cooper Jeff , Miller Tricia A. , Brown Bracken , Wrona Anna , Ortiz Patricia , Buchweitz John , McRuer Dave , Dominguez-Villegas Ernesto , Behmke Shannon , Katzner Todd 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Lead poisoning of scavenging birds is a global issue. However, the drivers of lead exposure of avian scavengers have been understood from the perspective of individual species, not cross-taxa assemblages. We analyzed blood (n = 285) and liver (n = 226) lead concentrations of 5 facultative (American crows [Corvus brachyrhynchos], bald eagles [Haliaeetus leucocephalus], golden eagles [Aquila chrysaetos], red-shouldered hawks [Buteo lineatus], and red-tailed hawks [Buteo jamaicensis]) and 2 obligate (black vultures [Coragyps atratus] and turkey vultures [Cathartes aura] avian scavenger species to identify lead exposure patterns. Species and age were significant (α &lt; 0.05) predictors of blood lead exposure of facultative scavengers; species, but not age, was a significant predictor of their liver lead exposure. We detected temporal variations in lead concentrations of facultative scavengers (blood: median = 4.41 µg/dL in spring and summer vs 13.08 µg/dL in autumn and winter; p = &lt;0.001; liver: 0.32 ppm in spring and summer vs median = 4.25 ppm in autumn and winter; p = &lt;0.001). At the species level, we detected between-period differences in blood lead concentrations of bald eagles (p = 0.01) and red-shouldered hawks during the winter (p = 0.001). During summer, obligate scavengers had higher liver lead concentrations than did facultative scavengers (median = 1.76 ppm vs 0.22 ppm; p = &lt;0.001). These data suggest that the feeding ecology of avian scavengers is a determinant of the degree to which they are lead exposed, and they highlight the importance of dietary and behavioral variation in determining lead exposure. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:882–892. © 2020 SETAC
Regular intake of white kidney beans extract (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) induces weight loss compared to placebo in obese human subjects
Authors: Wang Shenli , Chen Lishui , Yang Haiying , Gu Jinghan , Wang Jing , Ren Fazheng 
Published: February 2020

AbstractScopePhaseolus vulgaris L. is rich in alpha‐amylase inhibitor and has been used for reducing glycemia and calories absorption through preventing or delaying the digestion of complex carbohydrate. A randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled study was conducted on obese volunteers to evaluate the degree of significate weight loss by regular intake Phaseolus vulgaris cultivated from Southwestern region of China.MethodThe volunteers were divided into two groups, homogeneous for age, gender, and body weight. Phaseolus vulgaris extract or placebo was given 2,400 mg per day before each daily meal for 35 consecutive days. Each subject's body weight, fat mass, body mass index, blood biochemical parameters, skinfold fat thickness, and waist/hip circumferences were monitored and analyzed.Result and conclusionAs a result, the average amount of weight lost by the Phaseolus vulgaris extract group was 2.24 kg (average of 0.448 kg per week), compared with a 0.29 kg weight loss (average of 0.058 kg per week) in placebo group after 35 days. The differences between groups were significant (p < .01). The body mass index decreased by an average of 0.79, and the body fat decreased by 1.53% on average compared to baseline (p < .05). The thickness of subcutaneous fat was significantly reduced at the four measurement points, and the decrease of waist circumference and hip circumference was significant as well. No adverse or side effects were observed during the trial period. The results indicate that Phaseolus vulgaris extract can significantly induce weight loss in a short time period.
Nutritional adequacy and dietary disparities in an adult Caribbean population of African descent with a high burden of diabetes and cardiovascular disease
Authors: Harris Rachel M. , Rose Angela M. C. , Forouhi Nita G. , Unwin Nigel 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe Caribbean island of Barbados has a high burden of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Dietary habits were last described in 2005. A representative population‐based sample (n = 363, aged 25–64 years) provided two nonconsecutive 24‐hr dietary recalls in this cross‐sectional study. Mean daily nutrient intakes were compared with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Subgroup differences by age, sex, and educational level were examined using logistic regression. High sugar intakes exist for both sexes with 24% (95% CIs 18.9, 30.0) consuming less than the recommended <10% of energy from added sugars (men 22%; 15.0, 31.6; women 26%; 18.9, 33.7). Sugar‐sweetened beverages provide 43% (42.2%, 44.4%) of total sugar intake. Inadequate dietary fiber intakes (men 21 g, 18.2, 22.8; women 18 g, 16.7, 18.9) exist across all age groups. Inadequate micronutrient intake was found in women for calcium, folate, thiamine, zinc, and iron. Older persons (aged 45–64 years) were more likely to report adequacy of dietary fiber (OR = 2.7, 1.5, 4.8) and iron (OR = 3.0, 1.7, 5.3) than younger persons (aged 25–44). Older persons (aged 45–64 years) were less likely to have an adequate supply of riboflavin (OR = 0.4, 0.2, 0.6) than younger persons. Men were more likely to have adequate intakes of iron (OR = 13.0, 6.1, 28.2), folate (OR = 2.4, 1.3, 4.6), and thiamine (OR = 3.0, 1.5, 5.0) than women. Education was not associated with nutrient intake. The Barbadian diet is characterized by high sugar intakes and inadequate dietary fiber; a nutrient profile associated with an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related noncommunicable diseases.
Role of the hippocampus in the spacing effect during memory retrieval
Authors: Li Cuihong , Yang Jiongjiong 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIt is well known that distributed learning (DL) leads to improved memory performance compared with massed learning (ML) (i.e., spacing effect). However, the extent to which the hippocampus is involved in the spacing effect at shorter and longer retention intervals remains unclear. To address this issue, two groups of participants were asked to encode face–scene pairs at 20‐min, 1‐day, and 1‐month intervals before they were scanned using fMRI during an associative recognition task. The pairs were repeated six times in either a massed (i.e., six times in 1 day) or a distributed (i.e., six times over 3 days, twice per day) manner. The results showed that compared with that in the ML group, the activation of the left hippocampus was stronger in the DL group when the participants retrieved old pairs correctly and rejected new pairs correctly at different retention intervals. In addition, the posterior hippocampus was more strongly activated when the new associations were rejected correctly after DL than ML, especially at the 1‐month interval. Hence, our results provide evidence that the hippocampus is involved in better memory performance after DL compared to ML at both shorter and longer retention intervals.
Sources of the small firm financing premium: Evidence from euro area banks
Authors: Holton Sarah , McCann Fergal 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe post‐2008 period in the euro area was characterised by sharp dispersion in borrowing costs faced by firms, across both countries and firm types. This dispersion was an important manifestation of the “financial fragmentation” that hampered the smooth transmission of accommodative monetary policy. Using bank‐level data from 2007 to 2015, we directly measure the borrowing cost dispersion across firm types by calculating the difference in the interest rate charged by the same bank in the same month for loans to small and large firms (the “Small Firm Financing Premium,” SFFP). We assess the role played by both bank and macroeconomic factors in explaining the variation in the SFFP across countries and through time. We provide evidence that bank market share, sovereign bond holdings, and balance sheet weaknesses led to disproportionate borrowing cost increases for small firms and exacerbated the impact of a weak macroeconomy during this period.
Lone pairs mapping by Laplacian of 3He NMR chemical shift
Authors: Tupikina Elena Yu. , Tokhadze Konstantin G. , Denisov Gleb S. , Tolstoy Peter M. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractResults of approbation of a new quantum mechanical approach of lone pairs (LPs) visualization, its optimization and testing on a range of model molecules are presented. The main idea of proposed methodology is using 3He atom as a probe for investigating electronic shells of species with LPs. As model objects, we consider “classical” examples of hydrogen cyanide, methanimine, ammonia, phosphine, formaldehyde, water, and hydrogen sulfide. It is shown that LPs can be visualized by means of 3D maps of Laplacian of 3He chemical shift ∇2δHe. NMR calculations could be performed using level of theory as low as B3LYP/6‐31G, allowing for the reduction of computational time without significant loss of quality. Advantages of our approach are discussed in comparison with usual methods of lone pairs visualization (electron localization function, molecular electrostatic potential).
Irisin induces trophoblast differentiation via AMPK activation in the human placenta
Authors: Drewlo Sascha , Johnson Eugenia , Kilburn Brian A. , Kadam Leena , Armistead Brooke , Kohan‐Ghadr Hamid‐Reza 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIrisin, an adipokine, regulates differentiation and phenotype in various cell types including myocytes, adipocytes, and osteoblasts. Circulating irisin concentration increases throughout human pregnancy. In pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus, circulating irisin levels are reduced compared to healthy controls. To date, there are no data on the role and molecular function of irisin in the human placenta or its contribution to pathophysiology. Aberrant trophoblast differentiation is involved in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. The current study aimed to assess the molecular effects of irisin on trophoblast differentiation and function. First‐trimester placental explants were cultured and treated with low (10 nM) and high (50 nM) physiological doses of irisin. Treatment with irisin dose‐dependently increased both in vitro placental outgrowth (on Matrigel™) and trophoblast cell‐cell fusion. Adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling, an important regulator of cellular energy homeostasis that is involved in trophoblast differentiation and pathology, was subsequently investigated. Here, irisin exposure induced placental AMPK activation. To determine the effects of irisin on trophoblast differentiation, two trophoblast‐like cell lines, HTR‐8/SVneo and BeWo, were treated with irisin and/or a specific AMPK inhibitor (Compound C). Irisin‐induced AMPK phosphorylation in HTR‐8/SVneo cells. Additionally, as part of the differentiation process, integrin switching from α6 to α1 occurred as well as increased invasiveness. Overall, irisin promoted differentiation in villous and extravillous cell‐based models via AMPK pathway activation. These findings provide evidence that exposure to irisin promotes differentiation and improves trophoblast functions in the human placenta that are affected in abnormal placentation.
High muscle‐to‐fat ratio is associated with lower risk of chronic kidney disease development
Authors: Jhee Jong Hyun , Joo Young Su , Han Seong Hyeok , Yoo Tae‐Hyun , Kang Shin‐Wook , Park Jung Tak 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundObesity, a known risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD), is generally assessed using body mass index (BMI). However, BMI may not effectively reflect body composition, and the impact of muscle‐to‐fat (MF) mass balance on kidney function has not been elucidated. This study evaluated the association between body muscle and fat mass balance, represented as the MF ratio, and incident CKD development.MethodsData were retrieved from a prospective community‐based cohort study (Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study). Muscle and fat mass were measured using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. The study endpoint was incident CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 in at least two or more consecutive measurements during the follow‐up period).ResultsTotally, 7682 participants were evaluated. Their mean age was 51.7 ± 8.7 years, and 48% of the subjects were men. During a median follow‐up of 140.0 (70.0–143.0) months, 633 (8.2%) subjects developed incident CKD. When the association between body composition and incident CKD was investigated, multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that increase in MF ratio was related with a decreased risk of CKD development [per 1 increase in MF ratio: hazard ratio (HR), 0.86; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.77–0.96; P = 0.008]. This association was also maintained when MF ratio was dichotomized according to sex‐specific median values (high vs. low: HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.70–0.98; P = 0.031). Analyses preformed in a propensity score matched group also revealed a similar decreased risk of incident CKD in high MF ratio participants (high vs. low: HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.71–0.98; P = 0.037). This relationship between MF ratio and incident CKD risk was consistently significant across subgroups stratified by age, sex, hypertension, estimated glomerular filtration rate categories, and proteinuria. Among different BMI groups (normal, overweight, and obese), the relationship between high MF ratio and lower incident CKD risk was significant only in overweight and obese subjects.ConclusionsLower fat mass relative to muscle mass may lower the risk of CKD development in individuals with normal renal function. This relationship seems more prominent in overweight and obese subjects than in normal weight subjects.
Kinetic parameter estimation for methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether over sulfonic and polymeric acid catalysts
Authors: Barbarossa Vincenzo , Viscardi Rosanna , Di Nardo Antonio , Santagata Alfonso 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether (DME) has received considerable attention in the literature, because of its potential use as a multipurpose fuel. A wide literature of kinetic studies is available for γ‐Al2O3, reference commercial catalyst but only a few authors report a kinetic analysis of attractive and alternative catalysts to γ‐Al2O3 in DME production. The aim of this work was to contribute in this direction, by performing a catalytic test focused on the determination of kinetic parameters for methanol dehydration over sulfonic acid catalysts and polymeric materials.RESULTSThe catalytic and kinetic behavior of these materials for the methanol to DME dehydration reaction has been investigated using a fixed bed reactor at total pressure of 1 bar within a temperature range of 50 to 450 °C. The sulfonated fluoropolymer (Aquivion) exhibited the highest activity and stability for the dehydration reaction at relatively low temperatures at which the γ‐Al2O3 did not display any dehydration activity. The tested catalysts showed good time stability when both methanol and methanol/water mixtures were used as feed reactants. Good agreement was achieved between experimental data and the proposed model.CONCLUSIONThe ‐SO3H groups enhanced the surface acidity and the catalytic performances. The sulfonated perfluorinated polymer (Aquivion) was able to catalyze the methanol/DME conversion at temperatures as low as 90 °C. The selectivity to DME at lower temperatures was 100%. Apparent activation energy for this reaction was experimentally evaluated to 110 KJ/mol and theoretical calculated to 96 KJ/mol: there was a comparable and good agreement with the experimental data. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Pediatric Endoscopic Ossiculoplasty Following Surgery for Chronic Ear Disease
Authors: Caloway Christen L. , Basonbul Razan A. , Ronner Evette A. , Tolisano Anthony M. , Zhu Angela W. , Suresh Harini , Lee Daniel J. , Isaacson Brandon , Cohen Michael S. 
Published: February 2020

ObjectiveRigid endoscopes can improve visualization of the tympanic space compared to traditional microscopic techniques. This study investigates whether use of transcanal endoscopic ossiculoplasty influences audiologic outcomes compared to microscopic ossiculoplasty following chronic ear surgery in children.Study DesignComparative cohort study at two tertiary care centers.MethodsRetrospective review of pediatric chronic ear cases where ossiculoplasty was performed from February 2009 to March 2018.ResultsWe identified 100 ears that underwent endoscopic ossiculoplasty and 100 ears that underwent microscopic ossiculoplasty. The mean age was 11 years (range, 4–18 years) with 63% males. There were no significant differences in these parameters between the two groups. Subjects underwent either primary ossiculoplasty or ossiculoplasty during second‐look procedures. There was no significant difference in air conduction pure tone average (PTA) after microscopic cases compared to endoscopic cases (−12.5 dB vs. −10.5 dB, P = .40). These results were independent of prosthesis type. Microscopic ossiculoplasty was significantly more likely to use a post‐auricular approach (P = .0001). There was no difference in complication rate between the two groups. The malleus was more likely to be absent or removed prior to endoscopic ossiculoplasty (P = .0004) with no significant difference in the change in PTA between groups.ConclusionsTranscanal endoscopic ossiculoplasty was found to have equivalent audiometric outcomes with significantly fewer post‐auricular approaches and no increase in complications compared to microscopic ossiculoplasty. While the malleus was more likely to be absent in endoscopic cases, this did not appear to influence the change in PTA.Level of Evidence4 Laryngoscope, 2020
Age‐related change of auditory functional connectivity in Human Connectome Project data and tinnitus patients
Authors: Minami Shujiro B. , Oishi Naoki , Watabe Takahisa , Wasano Koichiro , Ogawa Kaoru 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundWe reported that tinnitus patients showed reduced levels of auditory functional connectivity (FC) in comparison with normal hearing control subjects, and that we succeeded in objective diagnosis of tinnitus with 86% sensitivity and 74% specificity by focusing only on auditory‐related FC. However, the age‐related change of auditory FC is not clarified. In this study, we examine age‐related change of the auditory FC using the database of Human Connectome Project (HCP) and compared with our database of tinnitus patients.MethodFrom the HCP database HCP Lifespan Pilot project, we studied five age groups, 8 to 9 years old, 14 to 15, 25 to 35, 45 to 55, and 65 to 75. We also applied our tinnitus patients' resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) database, which is divided into three generations; 20 to 40 years old, 40 to 60, and 60 to 80 to compare with the HCP database. The resting state fMRI analyses were performed using the CONN toolbox version 18. As auditory‐related regions, Heschl's gyrus, planum temporale, planum polare, operculum, insular cortex, and superior temporal gyrus were set as the regions of interest from our previous reports.ResultAuditory FC is strongest among adolescents and reduces with age. But the auditory FC of tinnitus patients were significantly less than those of HCP data in each generation.ConclusionAlthough auditory FC decreases with age, tinnitus patients have less auditory FC compared with age‐matched controls. The age‐matched cutoff values are necessary for an objective diagnosis of tinnitus with resting state fMRI.