bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Course‐based undergraduate research experiences in a remote setting: Two case studies documenting implementation and student perceptions
Authors: Fey Samuel B. , Theus Meredith E. , Ramirez Aaron R. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractInquiry‐based components of ecology curricula can be valuable, exposing students to what it means to do science, from conceiving of a meaningful question to effectively disseminating results to an audience. Here, we describe two approaches for implementing independent, remote research for undergraduates enacted in the spring semester of 2020 at Reed College in Portland, OR, reporting case studies from an intermediate‐level ecology course and an interdisciplinary environmental science course. We report on both the challenges as well as the novel opportunities for independent research projects in such a setting, the details of how projects were implemented, the tools and resources that may help facilitate such endeavors, as well as perceptions on the effectiveness of this endeavor by students. As institutes of higher education continue to operate in an online learning environment, we hope these materials help spark a discussion about how to engage in meaningful research experiences as part of coursework in the COVID‐19 era and beyond.
Introduced plants of Lupinus polyphyllus are larger but flower less frequently than conspecifics from the native range: Results of the first year
Authors: Ramula Satu , Kalske Aino 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIntroduced species, which establish in novel environments, provide an opportunity to explore trait evolution and how it may contribute to the distribution and spread of species. Here, we explore trait changes of the perennial herb Lupinus polyphyllus based on 11 native populations in the western USA and 17 introduced populations in Finland. More specifically, we investigated whether introduced populations outperformed native populations in traits measured in situ (seed mass) and under common garden conditions during their first year (plant size, flowering probability, and number of flowering shoots). We also explored whether climate of origin (temperature) influenced plant traits and quantified the degree to which trait variability was explained collectively by country and temperature as compared to other population‐level differences. Three out of four plant traits differed between the native and introduced populations; only seed mass was similar between countries, with most of its variation attributed to other sources of intraspecific variation not accounted for by country and temperature. Under common garden conditions, plants originating from introduced populations were larger than those originating from native populations. However, plants from the introduced range flowered less frequently and had fewer flowering shoots than their native‐range counterparts. Temperature of a population's origin influenced plant size in the common garden, with plant size increasing with increasing mean annual temperature in both native and introduced populations. Our results of the first year reveal genetic basis for phenotypic differences in some fitness‐related traits between the native and introduced populations of L. polyphyllus. However, not all of these trait differences necessarily contribute to the invasion success of the species and thus may not be adaptive, which raises a question how persistent the trait differences observed in the first year are later in individuals’ life for perennial herbs.
Reduced concentrations of the B cell cytokine interleukin 38 are associated with cardiovascular disease risk in overweight subjects
Authors: de Graaf Dennis M. , Jaeger Martin , van den Munckhof Inge C. L. , ter Horst Rob , Schraa Kiki , Zwaag Jelle , Kox Matthijs , Fujita Mayumi , Yamauchi Takeshi , Mercurio Laura , Madonna Stefania , Rutten Joost H.W. , de Graaf Jacqueline , Riksen Niels P. , van de Veerdonk Frank L. , Netea Mihai G. , Joosten Leo A.B. , Dinarello Charles A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe IL‐1 family member IL‐38 (IL1F10) suppresses inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Here, we report that plasma concentrations of IL‐38 in 288 healthy Europeans correlate positively with circulating memory B cells and plasmablasts. IL‐38 correlated negatively with age (p= 0.02) and was stable in 48 subjects for 1 year. In comparison with primary keratinocytes,IL1F10expression in CD19+B cells from PBMC was lower, whereas cell‐associated IL‐38 expression was comparable. In vitro, IL‐38 is released from CD19+B cells after stimulation with rituximab. Intravenous LPS in humans failed to induce circulating IL‐38, compared to 100‐fold induction of IL‐6 and IL‐1 receptor antagonist. In a cohort of 296 subjects with body mass index > 27 at high risk for cardiovascular disease, IL‐38 plasma concentrations were significantly lower than in healthy subjects (p< 0.0001), and lowest in those with metabolic syndrome (p< 0.05). IL‐38 also correlated inversely with high sensitivity C‐reactive protein (p< 0.01), IL‐6, IL‐1Ra, and leptin (p< 0.05). We conclude that a relative deficiency of the B cell product IL‐38 is associated with increased systemic inflammation in aging, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and is consistent with IL‐38 as an anti‐inflammatory cytokine.
A Novel Strategy to Prepare Palladium‐silver Nano‐alloy by Methanol Reduction for Brucine Electrochemical Detection
Authors: Liu Zhiguang , Zhong Faqiang , Guo Yujing , Liu Min 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn this work, a novel synthetic strategy of PdAg nano‐alloy colloids was established via methanol reduction, a environmental friendly method due to the advantage of biodegradable methanol. The obtained nano‐alloys were decorated on the surface of graphene (Gr/PdAg). Gr/PdAg was then modified onto the surface of glassy carbon electrode (Gr/PdAg/GCE) to explore its electrocatalytic performance for brucine. The linear range of the electrochemical determination for brucine is 0.63 μM–1.89 mM and the detection limit is 0.10 μM. It was also used for the determination of brucine in human urine with recoveries from 95.0 to 104.0 %.
Impacts of simulated M9 Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquakes considering amplifications due to the Georgia sedimentary basin on reinforced concrete shear wall buildings
Authors: Kakoty Preetish , Dyaga Sai Mithra , Molina Hutt Carlos 
Published: October 2020

AbstractSouthwest British Columbia has the potential to experience large‐magnitude earthquakes generated by the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ). Buildings in Metro Vancouver are particularly vulnerable to these earthquakes because the region lies above the Georgia sedimentary basin, which can amplify the intensity of ground motions, particularly at medium‐to‐long periods. Earthquake design provisions in Canada neglect basin amplification and the consequences of accounting for these effects are uncertain. By leveraging a suite of physics‐based simulations of M9 CSZ earthquakes, we develop site‐specific and period‐dependent spectral acceleration basin amplification factors throughout Metro Vancouver. The M9 simulations, which explicitly account for basin amplification for periods greater than 1s, are benchmarked against the 2016 BC Hydro ground motion model (GMM), which neglects such effects. Outside the basin, empirical and simulated seismic hazard estimates are consistent. However, for sites within the basin and periods in the 1‐5 s range, GMMs significantly underestimate the hazard. The proposed basin amplification factors vary as a function of basin depth, reaching a geometric mean value as high as 4.5 at a 2‐s period, with respect to a reference site located just outside the basin. We evaluate the impact of the M9 simulations on tall reinforced concrete shear wall buildings, which are predominant in the region, by developing a suite of idealized structural systems that capture the strength and ductility intended by historical seismic design provisions in Canada. Ductility demands and collapse risk conditioned on the occurrence of the M9 simulations were found to exceed those associated with ground motion shaking intensities corresponding to the 975 and 2475‐year return periods, far exceeding the ∼500‐year return period of M9 CSZ earthquakes.
Design of laterally loaded pile‐columns considering SSI effects: Strengths and weaknesses of 3D, 2D, and 1D nonlinear analysis
Authors: Andreotti Guido , Calvi Gian Michele 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe type of analysis used to design laterally loaded piles or pile‐columns seems often selected with criteria related more to the analyst's background than to the type of problem. Most of the time, the adopted approach is not rigorous because the response of the soil‐pile system is evaluated without considering the mutual influence that structural inelasticity has on soil plasticity and vice‐versa. This article has two main objectives: (i) to underline the role of the structural and soil plasticity within the nonlinear analysis of the soil‐pile system as a whole, also highlighting the Soil‐Structure‐Interaction (SSI) effects, and (ii) to propose a framework for the rational selection of the most suitable approach in relation to the design phase (eg, tender offer, basic design, detailed design). The cast‐in‐drilled‐hole (CIDH) reinforced concrete pile‐column system, in which the distinction between structural and geotechnical engineering duties is less obvious, has been selected as a case study. The study compares the results of several approaches, using full‐scale experimental data as benchmark. The results have been obtained with different software programs, commonly used by geotechnical and structural engineers. Particular attention has been dedicated to investigate the reliability of the analysis in relation to the level of complexity of the model (eg, 3D, 2D, and 1D).
Multi‐criteria analysis and Geographic Information Systems methods for wind turbine siting in a North Aegean island
Authors: Bertsiou Maria Margarita , Theochari Aimilia Panagiota , Baltas Evangelos 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe need for energy independence of small remoted islands, promote the exploration of renewable energy sources. Greek islands have rich wind potential and subsequently, the attention is being drawn to the use of wind turbines to meet their energy needs. However, the optimal location of wind turbines installation is the basis for the exploitation of high wind potential in combination with the current legislation framework. This paper presents a combined use of Multi‐Criteria Decision‐Making (MCDM) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the evaluation of eligible sites for wind turbine installation in North Aegean island, in Greece. Criteria weights are estimated for three scenarios using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for the illustration of the impact on the final design. The minimum distance from the main settlement of the island constitutes an extra constraint for the investigation of the capability of installing wind farms with the lowest possible energy losses due to power transmission via cables. In all scenarios, the prohibited zone corresponds to 27.9% of the total area of the island. Also, sites with high wind potential can be combined with lower altitudes and can give even more suitable locations for installation, reducing, thus, the installation cost. Economic‐oriented scenario appears to combine both low cost and larger surface area for installation. A sensitivity analysis is performed, for determining the impact of the criteria on the suitability of a site. It seems that new suitability maps are affected greater by the type of the chosen criterion rather than the weight.
Effects of the dietary approach to stop hypertension (DASH) diet on blood pressure, blood glucose, and lipid profile in adolescents with hemophilia: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Mahdavi Atena , Mohammadi Hamed , Foshati Sahar , Shokri‐Mashhadi Nafiseh , Clark Cain C. T. , Moafi Alireza , Rouhani Mohammad Hossein 
Published: October 2020

AbstractChildren with hemophilia are an enhanced risk of modifiable cardiovascular and metabolic abnormalities. There is currently no nutritional guideline to prevent or manage cardiometabolic risk factors in these patients. Therefore, the present study sought to investigate the effect of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet on cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors among children with hemophilia. In this parallel randomized clinical trial, 40 children (all male) with hemophilia were randomly allocated to the DASH group (n = 20) or control group (n = 20) for 10 weeks. The intervention group received the DASH diet (50%–55% of energy from carbohydrate, 27%–30% of energy from fat and 16%–18% energy from protein), and the control group received nutritional recommendations based on healthy eating practices. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting blood sugar (FBS), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) were measured at the beginning and end of the study. Serum vitamin C was measured as a biomarker of compliance with the DASH diet. Study was registered at IRCT.ir (IRCT20130903014551N6). A significant increase in serum vitamin C in the DASH diet group was observed compared to the control group (p = .001), indicating good compliance with the DASH diet. There was a significant reduction in SBP (−0.48 mmHg), DBP (−0.48 mmHg), FBS (−5.86 mg/dl), TC (−16.07 mg/dl), TG (−17.21 mg/dl), and LDL‐C (−9.79 mg/dl), and a significant increase in HDL‐C (3.39 mg/dl), in the DASH diet group compared with the control group. Adherence to the DASH diet in children with hemophilia yielded beneficial effects in blood pressure, lipid profiles, and FBS.
The imprint of childhood adversity on emotional processing in high functioning young adults
Authors: Mirman Aron , Bick Atira S. , Kalla Carmel , Canetti Laura , Segman Ronen , Dan Rotem , Ben Yehuda Ariel , Levin Netta , Bonne Omer 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been acknowledged as risk factors for increased mental health complications in adulthood, specifically increasing susceptibility to developing psychopathology upon exposure to trauma. Yet, little is known regarding the impact of mild ACEs on highly functioning population. In this study forty participants were selected from a group of 366 highly selected military parachute trainees using the self‐report “childhood trauma questionnaire,” and classified into two groups of 20 each, with and without ACEs. Behavioral measurements were obtained before and at the peak of an intensive combat training period, including anxiety, depression and executive function assessment. Functional MRI including a negative emotional face perception task was conducted at the first time point. Psychometric and cognitive measurements revealed higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms, and more difficulties in executive functioning in the ACE group at baseline. Slower reaction time to emotional faces presentation was found in the ACE group. Lower activation in response to negative emotional faces stimuli was found in this group in bilateral secondary visual areas, left anterior insula, left parietal cortex and left primary motor and sensory regions. In contrast, higher activation in the ACE group was found in the right ventral lateral prefrontal cortex (Vlpfc). No significant differences between groups were detected in the amygdala. To conclude, mild adverse childhood experiences produce long‐term sequela on psychological wellbeing and neurocircuitry even in high functioning population. Brain regions modulated by childhood trauma may instigate avoidance mechanisms dampening the emotional and cognitive effects of intensive stress.
Numerical and experimental investigation of parabolic trough collector with focal evacuated tube and different working fluids integrated with single slope solar still
Authors: Nabil Tamer , Dawood Mohamed M. K. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis study deals with the design and fabrication of parabolic trough solar collectors (PTCs) used to increase the yield of a single slope solar still. The designed parabolic trough solar collector is investigated numerically using Ansys Fluent 18.2. The proposed solar still is coupled with a parabolic trough solar collector with an evacuated tube receiver in its focal axis using different working fluids. The working fluids are water (case 1), oil (case 2), and nano‐oil (CuO/mineral oil 3% vol; case 3). In the case when the working fluid is not water, then a heat exchanger serpentine should be used in the solar still basin. The PTC has a rim angle of 82° and an aperture width of 0.9 m and length of 2.8 m. An assessment of the performance for the studied systems was accomplished under the weather conditions of Ismailia, Egypt, during summer months, June, July, and August 2019. The outcomes of closed‐loop working fluids different flow rates are investigated. The experimental results of the accumulated freshwater productivities record 2.955, 3.475, 4.29, and 5.04 L m−2 d−1 for the traditional solar still and the modified cases 1 to 3 solar stills, respectively. The modified solar still in case 3 has the highest daily accumulated freshwater productivity with a percentage increase of 71.2% than the traditional solar still. The maximum daily efficiency is 46% and 26.9% for the traditional and modified (case 3) solar stills, respectively. The cost of 1 L of fresh water is 0.057 and 0.062 $/L for the traditional and the modified (case 3) solar stills, respectively.
A Review of Key Features and Their Implementation in Unstructured, Structured, and Agent-Based Population Models for Ecological Risk Assessment
Authors: Accolla Chiara , Vaugeois Maxime , Grimm Volker , Moore Adrian P , Rueda-Cediel Pamela , Schmolke Amelie , Forbes Valery E 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Population models can provide valuable tools for ecological risk assessment (ERA). A growing amount of work on model development and documentation is now available to guide modelers and risk assessors to address different ERA questions. However, there remain misconceptions about population models for ERA, and communication between regulators and modelers can still be hindered by a lack of clarity in the underlying formalism, implementation, and complexity of different model types. In particular, there is confusion about differences among types of models and the implications of including or ignoring interactions of organisms with each other and their environment. In this review, we provide an overview of the key features represented in population models of relevance for ERA, which include density dependence, spatial heterogeneity, external drivers, stochasticity, life-history traits, behavior, energetics, and how exposure and effects are integrated in the models. We differentiate 3 broadly defined population model types (unstructured, structured, and agent-based) and explain how they can represent these key features. Depending on the ERA context, some model features will be more important than others, and this can inform model type choice, how features are implemented, and possibly the collection of additional data. We show that nearly all features can be included irrespective of formalization, but some features are more or less easily incorporated in certain model types. We also analyze how the key features have been used in published population models implemented as unstructured, structured, and agent-based models. The overall aim of this review is to increase confidence and understanding by model users and evaluators when considering the potential and adequacy of population models for use in ERA. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:521–540. © 2020 SETAC
KEY POINTS
We provide an overview of the key features represented in population models of relevance for ecological risk assessment (ERA), and differentiate 3 population model types (unstructured, structured, and agent-based). We show that nearly all features can be included irrespective of formalization, but some features are more or less easily incorporated in certain model types. Depending on the ERA context, some model features are more important than others, and there are trade-offs between the need to incorporate particular features, data availability, and computational and/or mathematical effort. When possible, we encourage the use of a multimodeling approach to increase confidence in model outputs.
Effects of waiting time between failed fresh cycle embryo transfer and the next frozen embryo transfer on pregnancy outcomes in assisted reproductive technology
Authors: Tian Xiao , Song Jing‐Yan , Sun Zhen‐Gao 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo explore how waiting time after failed fresh cycle embryo transfer affects the pregnancy outcomes of the next frozen embryo transfer (FET).MethodsA retrospective analysis was carried out on the data of women who had received at least one FET after a failed fresh embryo transfer between January 2013 to December 2019. The women were grouped based on the “time” of the first FET, referring to the period between a failed fresh embryo transfer and the beginning of the next cycle of FET. This time is divided into two classes: immediate (<90 days after the failed fresh embryo transfer) and delayed (≥90 days after failed fresh embryo transfer). The following parameters were investigated: clinical pregnancy rate; biochemical pregnancy rate; ectopic pregnancy rate; and non‐pregnancy rate.ResultsA total of 293 cases of fresh embryo transfer cycles were included. No significant differences in the number of obtained oocytes, total number of FET, and the total amount of gonadotropin were seen between the immediate and delayed fresh embryo transfer groups. The pregnancy outcomes of the two groups were similar.ConclusionThe duration of waiting time between failed fresh embryo transfer and the next FET does not affect pregnancy outcomes.