bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Theoretical studies on space debris recycling and energy conversion system in the International Space Station
Authors: Mariappan Amrith , Kumar V. R. Sanal , Weddell Stephen J. , Muruganandan Vishnu Anand , Jeung In‐Seuck 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe space debris management and alleviation in the microgravity environment is a dynamic research theme of contemporary interest. Herein, we provide a theoretical proof of the concept of a lucrative energy conversion system that is capable of changing the space debris into useful powders in the International Space Station (ISS) for various bids. A specially designed broom is adapted to collect the space debris of various sizes. An optical sorting method is proposed for the debris segregation in the ISS by creating an artificial gravitational field. It could be done by using the frame‐dragging effect or gravitomagnetism. An induction furnace is facilitated for converting the segregated metal‐scrap into liquid metal. A fuel‐cell aided water atomization method is proposed for transforming the liquid debris into metal powder. The high‐energetic metal powders obtained from the space debris could be employed for producing propellants for useful aerospace applications, and the silicon powder obtained could be used for making soil for fostering the pharmaceutical‐flora in the space lab in the future aiming for the scarce‐drug discoveries for high‐endurance health care management. The proposed energy conversion system is a possible alternative for the space debris extenuation and its real applications in orbiting laboratories through the international collaboration for the benefits to humanity.
Analyzing the changes in the brain material properties after a mild traumatic brain injury—A pilot study
Authors: Kwon Eryn , Holdsworth Samantha , Guild Sarah‐Jane , Scadeng Miriam , Jayatissa Sahan , Kollarczik Leon , Tayebi Maryam , Rosset Samuel , Shim Vickie 
Published: November 2020

AbstractTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health challenge, is very difficult to diagnose, and currently has no accepted treatment options. The difficulty in diagnosis is due to the complex pathophysiology of TBI, where the damage mechanisms span multiple spatial and temporal scales and ultimately manifest as diverse cognitive impairments in brain function. The speed and dynamic nature with which the mechanical insults occur in TBI means that computational models are the best candidate to mimic the in vivo event and to investigate the injury progression in detail. A current weakness in TBI computational models is the poor understanding of how material properties within different regions of the brain change after damage. Here, we developed an animal experiment pipeline where a controlled and reproducible mechanical insult can be applied to a sheep brain in vivo followed by ex vivo compression mechanical testing. For each brain, the compression mechanical testing was conducted across the length of the brain to assess baseline regional variations in material properties and how these properties changed after mechanical impact. Using this pipeline, we have characterized locational variations in the brain material properties both pre and post‐TBI. Our preliminary results confirm that there exist locational variations in the brain material properties across all regions of cerebrum. The analysis of post‐TBI tissues showed that compressive strength was reduced in the area nearest the direct impact.
Using the analytical heirarchy process to select specific methanation catalysts based on their extraction impacts
Authors: Duck Gerald , Yu Yue , Simakov David S. A. , Walker Sean B. 
Published: November 2020

SummaryMethanation is an exothermic process that utilizes catalysts to convert the carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in biogas to methane, forming synthetic natural gas. The criteria for determining a suitable catalyst should not only be its effectiveness, but also the environmental impact of extracting and refining the metal. The authors examine the environmental impacts of implementing a select group of methanation catalysts in the field for industrial scale synthetic natural gas production using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Catalysts containing a combination of rare earth metals are investigated separately and AHP is used to rank the catalysts based on their environmental impact per kg of CO2 converted. It is determined that catalysts containing common metals, such as nickel, have the lowest environmental impact per conversion rate across a number of metrics and represented the catalysts with the second and third highest conversion rates analyzed. Catalysts containing ruthenium are found to be the most detrimental to the environment, in spite of the favorable conversion rate offered by a ruthenium‐cesium catalyst in methanation reactors.
Air pollution and noncognitive traits among Chinese adolescents
Authors: Li Mengyao , Ferreira Susana , Smith Travis A. , Zhang Xin 
Published: November 2020

AbstractMost residents in developing countries live under poor air quality. The adverse effects of air pollution on cardiovascular and respiratory health are well documented. More recently, it has been shown that air pollution adversely affects areas of the central nervous system regulating noncognitive traits. Because the developing brain is particularly vulnerable, this study focuses on adolescents. We match air pollution data from monitoring stations in China to repeated measures of noncognitive traits using panel data. In general, poorer contemporaneous air quality, rather than poorer past air quality, negatively affects adolescent noncognitive traits. Specifically, an increase in the Air Pollution Index by 15 points—the average daily fluctuation—leads to a 5.5% increase in psychological distress, 0.9% decrease in self‐esteem, 3.2% reduction in self‐satisfaction, and 0.9% decrease in confidence in the future. No such effects are found among adults.
Increased colluvial hollow discharge and subsequent recovery after a low intensity wildfire in the Blue Ridge Mountains, USA
Authors: Stiefel Liam C. , Cooley Susannah C. , Johnson Bradley G. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractWildfires in mountainous regions have been documented to enhance water repellent soils which can increase runoff, erosion, and sedimentation during subsequent rain events. However, the extent of soil hydrophobicity and water repellency varies significantly with burn severity and between ecosystems, and the southern Appalachians remain an understudied region. Here we examine the impact of the low severity Chestnut Knob Fire, which occurred in the fall 2016, on soil properties and runoff in South Mountains State Park. To examine these impacts, we installed crest‐stage gauges in burned (n = 10) and unburned (n = 8) colluvial hollows to compare peak runoff. Results from the 2017 field season indicated that burned locations produced significantly higher peak discharges than unburned sites. From July 2019 to January 2020, we repeated the experiment and found that burned areas produced runoff comparable to unburned areas. Examination of soil profiles during the summer of 2017 found high variability in hydrophobicity in both the burned (n = 10) and unburned (n = 2) soils. Further, we found that burned soils had significantly deflated organic surface horizons compared with unburned soils. We interpret the differences in runoff in 2017 to be the result of a combination of increased hydrophobicity and decreased soil moisture storage capacity in organic rich surface soils. While the recovery we observed here was relatively fast, it is important to understand that increased runoff immediately after a fire likely increases the chances of sediment mobilization and debris flow occurrence.
Relations between shyness and psychological adjustment in Chinese children: The role of friendship quality
Authors: Wang Zixuan , Bowker Julie C. , Liu Junsheng , Li Dan , Chen Xinyin 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe goal of this study is to examine the role of friendship quality in the links between shyness and children's psychological adjustment, and the potential moderating role of gender. Participants were N = 787 children in Grades 4–8 (Mage = 12.69 years, SD = 1.54) in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. They completed peer nomination items assessing shyness, and self‐report measures on friendship quality and the psychological outcome measures of loneliness, self‐esteem and depressive symptoms. Moderated‐mediation analyses revealed that shyness was associated positively while friendship quality was correlated negatively with psychological maladjustment, and that friendship quality mediated the associations between shyness and the outcomes. These mediation effects, however, were moderated by gender, such that friendship quality was a significant mediator for boys, but not for girls. Taken together, the findings highlight the oftentimes overlooked importance of friends in the lives of shy children.Highlights
The study evaluated a model linking shyness, gender and psychological adjustment in Chinese children.
Assessments of shyness, friendship quality and psychological adjustment were obtained from multiple sources, including peer nominations and self‐reports.
Friendship quality mediated the associations between shyness and the outcomes in boys, but not in girls.
Risk of somatic diseases in offspring of survivors with childhood or adolescent central nervous system tumor in Sweden
Authors: Huang Wuqing , Sundquist Kristina , Sundquist Jan , Ji Jianguang 
Published: November 2020

AbstractWith the improvement of treatments, a growing number of survivors with childhood or adolescent central nervous system (CNS) tumor are parenting their own children. We aimed to explore the risk of somatic diseases among children of these survivors compared to population controls. Children of survivors with CNS tumor below age of 20 were identified between 1973 and 2014 by combining the several Swedish registers. Five children without parental CNS tumor were matched randomly to generate the population comparisons. Relative risk (RR) and absolute excess risk (AER) were calculated for overall somatic diseases, and hazard ratio (HR) was calculated for specific type of somatic diseases. A total of 2231 somatic disease diagnoses were identified in children of survivors with a cumulative incidence rate of 94.77 per 1000 person‐years, whereas the rate was 92.79 in matched comparisons thus resulting in an overall RR of 1.02 (95% CI = 0.98‐1.07) and AER of 1.98 (95% CI = −2.06, 6.13). Specifically, five of 1364 children of survivors had CNS tumor with an incidence rate of 0.21 per 1000 person‐year, whereas the rate was 0.04 in children of matched children, generating a HR of 4.91 (95% CI = 1.42‐16.96). Children of male survivors were at a statistically increased risk of malignancy, as well as infectious and parasitic diseases. In conclusion, no significantly higher risk of overall somatic diseases was found in children of survivors with CNS tumor before the age of 20, but children with a paternal diagnosis of CNS tumor had significantly increased risk of malignancies and infectious and parasitic diseases.
The prevalence of self‐reported medical comorbidities in patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus: A single‐center retrospective study
Authors: Hu Jun , Hesson Ashley , Haefner Hope K. , Rominski Sarah 
Published: November 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the demographics and self‐reported medical comorbidities of patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) with those of women with other vulvar conditions.MethodsIntake questionnaires for patients presenting to the University of Michigan Center for Vulvar Diseases between 1996 and 2019 were entered into a de‐identified database (n = 1983). Responses to questions about thyroid disease, urinary symptoms and signs, gastrointestinal conditions, and pain conditions were collected.ResultsA total of 1983 women, including 865 patients with VLS and 1118 patients without VLS were enrolled. Pearson's χ2 analysis showed that age, hypertension, anorectal fissures, peptic ulcer disease/gastroesophageal reflux disease, urinary incontinence, fibromyalgia, thyroid disease, kidney problems, liver problems, and cancer were significantly associated with VLS when compared between the VLS and non‐VLS groups (P < 0.01). However, multiple regression analysis demonstrated that only age, thyroid disease, and anorectal fissures were strongly associated with VLS (P < 0.01).ConclusionIncreasing age, thyroid disease, and anorectal fissures were significantly associated with VLS. The association between anorectal fissures and VLS likely represents a sequela of the disease rather than a true comorbidity.
The 14‐day repeated‐dose toxicity study of a fixed‐dose combination, QXOH/levobupivacaine, via subcutaneous injection in beagle dogs
Authors: Zhang Jie , Zhang YuJun , Yin Qinqin , Yang Jun , Kang Yi , Gong Deying , Liu Jin , Zhang WenSheng 
Published: November 2020

AbstractQXOH‐Levobupivacaine (LB) is a fixed‐dose combination of 35‐mM QXOH and 10‐mM LB. It was developed for perioperative analgesia because of its long‐acting analgesic effect. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential toxicity of QXOH‐LB in beagle dogs in accordance with the Guidance on the repeated‐dose toxicity published by the China Food and Drug Administration. Groups of five male and five female beagle dogs received normal saline, QXOH‐LB (2, 4, and 8 mg/kg, calculated as QXOH), QXOH (2, 4, and 8 mg/kg), or LB (2 mg/kg, equals the concentration of LB in 8‐mg/kg QXOH‐LB group) at the volume of 1 mL/kg once per day for 14 days through subcutaneous injection. No mortality was observed. Dogs in the control group as well as animals treated with 2‐mg/kg QXOH or QXOH‐LB exhibited normal behaviors. Clinical signs of toxicity in dogs treated with 4 and 8 mg/kg of QXOH or QXOH‐LB included decreased activity, unsteady gait, jerks, tremors, vocalization, emesis, ataxia, lateral/sternal recumbency, deep/rapid respiration, and gasping. Additionally, neurological function was found to be affected by QXOH and QXOH‐LB at the doses of 4 and 8 mg/kg. All clinical signs were recovered within 24 h. The no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level of QXOH and QXOH‐LB was considered to be 2 mg/kg. Toxicokinetic data showed that exposure to QXOH and LB increased as QXOH‐LB doses were increased from 4 to 8 mg/kg. There was no evidence of drug accumulation or any effect of gender.
Reduced neuropathy target esterase in pre‐eclampsia suppresses tube formation of HUVECs via dysregulation of phospholipid metabolism
Authors: Li Mo , Shen Xin , Liu Hui , Yang Bei , Lu Siying , Tang Min , Ling Yan , Li Yuezhen , Kuang Haibin 
Published: November 2020

AbstractRecently, studies have shown that neuropathy target esterase (NTE) is essential to placental and normal blood vessel development. However, whether it is involved in abnormal placenta angiogenesis of pre‐eclampsia remains unknown. Thus, our aim was to observe the expression of NTE in pre‐eclamptic placentas and its effects and mechanism of NTE on the migration and the tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Immunohistochemical staining showed that the NTE protein was intensely located in blood vessels of the normal pregnant placenta. However, western blot revealed that the expression level of NTE protein was significantly reduced in pre‐eclamptic placenta. The results indicated that overexpression of NTE significantly promoted the migration and the tube formation of HUVECs compared with those of the control and scramble short hairpin RNA (shRNA) group. Conversely, NTE shRNA obviously inhibited the migration and the tube formation of HUVECs. Additionally, chromatography assay evidenced that NTE overexpression significantly reduced the level of phosphatidylcholine (PC) of HUVECs, but NTE shRNA obviously increased the level of PC of HUVECs. Furthermore, exogenous PC and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) significantly inhibited the tube formation of HUVECs in a dose‐dependent manner. Collectively, our results suggest that reduced NTE in placenta may contribute to abnormal placenta angiogenesis of pre‐eclampsia via the dysregulation of PC and LPC metabolism.
Variation of main rainy‐season precipitation in eastern China and relevance to regional warming
Authors: Liu Li , Wang Xiaojuan , Feng Guolin , Dogar Muhammad Mubashar , Zhang Feng , Zhiqiang Gong , Zhou Botao 
Published: November 2020

AbstractChina has experienced dramatic warming in summer mean temperature since the early 1990s, leading to precipitation variation across the region. We have studied the variation of rainy‐season (April–September) precipitation in eastern China during 1961–2016. Overall, we found that rainy‐season precipitation increased in the south and decreased in the north during 1992–2016 (PII) compared to 1961–1991 (PI). By defining rainfall‐belt indices of intensity and central location, we found that the southern rainfall‐belt during the main rainy‐season tends to produce much more‐intense precipitation during PI relative to PII, in contrast to the northern rainfall‐belt, which tends to have less‐intense precipitation during PII. Despite some fluctuations, the central positions of neither the northern nor the southern rainfall‐belts exhibit a statistically significant difference between the two periods. Unlike during PI, during PII, there is an obvious anticyclone over the Lake Baikal region. This anticyclone has caused anomalous north winds flowing from north‐central to southwestern China, leading to weakening of the northward moisture transport. Also, regions such as northeastern, north‐central, and southwestern China have been controlled by negative geopotential height anomalies and weak vertical air‐motion anomalies, resulting in drying from north to southwestern China. At the same time, the enhanced water‐vapour convergence in the southeastern coastal region of China favours increased precipitation there. These processes working in concert created the drying‐north–wetting‐south pattern in the main rainy‐season during 1961–2016. The change in rainfall‐belt intensity in eastern China has also shown a close relationship with the change in vapour transport from low latitudes. The weakened land‐sea thermal difference in the East Asia–Northwest Pacific region, which has weakened water‐vapour and atmospheric circulation, has also played a role in the change of rainfall‐belt intensity.
Pliocene and late Pleistocene (MIS 5e) decapod crustaceans from Santa Maria Island (Azores Archipelago: Central Atlantic): systematics, palaeoecology and palaeobiogeography
Authors: Hyžný Matúš , Melo Carlos S. , Ramalho Ricardo S. , Cordeiro Ricardo , Madeira Patrícia , Baptista Lara , Rebelo A. Cristina , Gómez Cynthia , Uchman Alfred , Johnson Markes E. , Berning Björn , Ávila Sérgio P. 
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACTThe presence of decapod crustaceans in the Pliocene and Pleistocene (MIS 5e) fossil record of Santa Maria Island (Azores Archipelago) is herein reviewed. Our study raises the number of fossil decapods from this island from one species to 10 taxa (three for the Pliocene and seven for the Last Interglacial). Four of these 10 taxa are reported for the first time in the fossil record, worldwide. A new species of a mud shrimp is also described (Upogebia azorensis n. sp.). Our study suggests that the Plio–Pleistocene decapod assemblages of the Azores did not differ significantly from modern ones, being dominated by species that are today widespread across the Webbnesia ecoregion, the Mediterranean Sea, and the eastern Atlantic shores, including the Azores. As far as can be judged from the limited fossil record, apparently no tropical crab species with a Cabo Verdean/Senegalese provenance reached the Azores during windows of opportunity associated with Glacial Termination 2 or with the initial setting of the Last Interglacial period. This contribution increases the total number of marine taxa reported for the Pliocene and Pleistocene outcrops of Santa Maria Island to 218 and 155, respectively, highlighting the scientific relevance of its palaeontological heritage.
Deep eutectic solvents cross‐linked molecularly imprinted chitosan microsphere for the micro‐solid phase extraction of p‐hydroxybenzoic acid from pear rind
Authors: Li Guizhen , Row Kyung Ho 
Published: November 2020

AbstractA visual, rapid, and sensitive micro‐solid phase extraction method was developed for the detection of p‐hydroxybenzoic acid using molecularly imprinted chitosan microspheres based on deep eutectic solvents, both as a functional monomer and template. The parameters were optimized by using the response surface methodology strategy. The extraction capacity of p‐hydroxybenzoic acid from pear rind under the optimized conditions using response surface methodology was 46.32 mg/g, when the pH of the extract solution (2), extraction time (35 min), extraction temperature (30°C), and adsorbent dosage (2 mg). The molecularly imprinted chitosan microspheres produced higher selectivity and extraction capacity than the traditional materials.
Carbon pools of biomass and dead organic matter in typical forest ecosystems of Tibet: A new estimation based on the first forestry carbon sequestration monitoring undertaken in China
Authors: Liu Shu‐qin , Bian Zhen , An Tian‐yu , Xia Chao‐zong , Zhang Ming , Chen Jian , Hou Rui‐ping , Zhang Ke‐bin , Zhao Hong‐qian 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe forest ecosystems of Tibet function as important carbon sinks. However, previous estimates of carbon budgets have included large uncertainties owing to the limitations of data acquisition and the method of estimation. In this study, IPCC and model estimation methods have been used to calculate all the sectors of carbon stocks in typical forest vegetation of Tibet and explore the biogeographical patterns and potential drivers of these pools. The results showed that the total carbon pools of biomass and dead organic matter in six typical forest ecosystems in Tibet was 457.67 Tg C, of which 10.52–164.85 Tg C (76.53%) was stored in aboveground biomass, 1.87–59.37 Tg C (22.07%) in belowground biomass, 0.01–2.75 Tg C (0.73%) in the forest understory, 0.02–1.57 Tg C (0.53%) in litter, and 0.01–0.27 Tg C (0.14%) in dead wood. These carbon reserves are primarily distributed in mature and over mature forests, comprising 48.89% and 31.58%, respectively. Geographical location and natural conditions affect the carbon sequestration capacity of the Tibetan forest ecosystems that decreases from southeast to northwest. An analysis also suggests that the canopy and tree densities have some effect on the carbon sequestration efficiency in different carbon pools. This is primarily because these two indicators have a greater impact on the growth of trees. In addition, it was found that the forests ofAbies fabriandPlatycladus orientalishad the highest and lowest degrees of carbon fixation, respectively.