bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating debris‐flow and anthropogenic disturbance on 10Be concentration in mountain drainage basins: implications for functional connectivity and denudation rates across time scales
Authors: Brardinoni Francesco , Grischott Reto , Kober Florian , Morelli Corrado , Christl Marcus 
Published: October 2020

ABSTRACTWe examine the sensitivity of 10Be concentrations (and derived denudation rates), to debris‐flow and anthropogenic perturbations in steep settings of the Eastern Alps, and explore possible relations with structural geomorphic connectivity. Using cosmogenic 10Be as a tracer for functional geomorphic connectivity, we conduct sampling replications across four seasons in Gadria, Strimm and Allitz Creek. Sampling sites encompass a range of structural connectivity configurations, including the conditioning of a sackung, all assessed through a geomorphometric index (IC). By combining information on contemporary depth of erosion and sediment yield, disturbance history and post‐LGM (Last Glacial Maximum) sedimentation rates, we constrain the effects of debris‐flow disturbance on 10Be concentrations at the Gadria sites. Here, we argue that bedrock weakening imparted by the sackung promotes high depth of erosion. Consequently, debris flows recruit sediment beyond the critical depth of spallogenic production (e.g., >3 m), which in turn, episodically, due to predominantly muogenic production pathways, lowers 10Be concentration by a factor of 4, for at least 2 years. In contrast, steady erosion in Strimm Creek yields very stable 10Be concentrations through time. In Allitz Creek, we observe two‐ to fourfold seasonal fluctuations in 10Be concentrations, which we explain as the combined effects of water diversion and hydraulic structures on sediment mixing. We further show that 10Be concentration correlates inversely with the IC index, where sub‐basins characterized by high concentrations (long residence times) exhibit low IC values (structurally disconnected) and vice versa, implying that, over millennial time scales a direct relation exists between functional and structural connectivity, and that the IC index performed as a suitable metric for structural connectivity. The index performs comparably better than other metrics (i.e., mean slope and mean normalized channel steepness index) previously used to assess topographic controls on denudation rates in active unglaciated ranges. In terms of landscape evolution, we argue that the sackung, by favouring intense debris‐flow activity across the Holocene, has aided rapid postglacial reshaping of the Gadria basin, which currently exhibits a topographic signature characteristic of unglaciated debris‐flow systems. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Leveraging Experimental Evaluations for Understanding Causal Mechanisms
Authors: Peck Laura R. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractExperimental evaluations—especially when grounded in theory‐based impact evaluation—can provide insights into the mechanisms that generate program impacts. This chapter details variants of experimental evaluation designs and also analytic strategies that leverage experimental evaluation data to learn about causal mechanisms. The design variants are poised to illuminate causal mechanisms related to program implementation and the contribution of selected components of multifaceted programs. The analysis strategies lend themselves to illuminating causal mechanisms related to participants’ responses to program components as well as to the contributions of selected program components themselves. The chapter offers an example from one, theory‐based impact evaluation, which embedded both design and analytic strategies to examine the extent to which specific program components and participant experiences might be identified as causal mechanisms. The particular value in using this theory‐based experimental strategy is that the results are rigorous and potentially highly relevant to policy and practice.
Unpacking Mechanisms in Climate Resilient Agriculture Interventions
Authors: Barrett Sam , D'Errico Stefano , Anderson Simon , Nebsu Bayu 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe investigation of causal mechanisms has the capacity to provide donors and implementing institutions with a greater understanding of people's reasoning and reactions as they work with interventions. This chapter contributes to the literature by identifying behavioral mechanisms generated through engagement with climate‐resilient agriculture interventions within a larger livelihood project in Ethiopia. It works through the steps that enabled the study to unpack the black box between the climate‐smart interventions and the outcome of crop production. The first step was a matching‐based sampling design, following households over 3 years with six biannual surveys, and setting up a quasi‐experimental evaluation setting. The second step used the data generated from the surveys in difference‐in‐difference models to assess the impact of the intervention on crop production. Third, to gain insight into the mechanisms at work, Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were conducted with smallholder farmer project beneficiaries. The FGDs revealed what the beneficiaries themselves considered the key mechanisms generated from the intervention, thus forming the bridge between the interventions and outcome. The result was an evaluation design enabling deeper insight into attribution claims. The findings offered novel insights for policymakers about how the climate‐resilient interventions worked for the people themselves and shedding light on the inner workings of the climate‐smart technologies. Finally, they provided key stakeholders (commissioning agency and implementing organizations) with a powerful means by which to learn about the last project, so to better plan for the next iteration and improve the climate resilience of smallholder farmers.
Aroma absorption in rapeseed oil using rotating packed bed
Authors: Lukin Ilya , Pietzka Lukas , Wingartz Isabell , Schembecker Gerhard 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAn increasing consumers’ call for natural aromas fuels the development of biotechnological aroma production. Although aroma fermentation is quite advantageous, especially severe product losses of volatile compounds through the bioreactor off‐gas may challenge the downstream processing. The application of novel process intensification methods to overcome the common drawbacks of conventional apparatuses might be helpful on a way to commercial competitiveness of biotechnological aromas. This study explored the suitability of rotating packed bed (RPB), a rotating mass transfer enhancing machine, for the absorption of model aroma compounds in rapeseed oil. Increasing the rotation speed from 500 to 2750 rpm led to two‐ to threefold higher absorption efficiencies at elsewise constant conditions. Aiming for an enriched aromatic intermediate, 2.5 L of rapeseed oil was processed in a recycle for 200 minutes, and a final concentration of benzaldehyde of 0.323 ± 0.026 g/Loil was achieved. Compared to packed columns, the RPB outperforms at equal packing depth or requires less packing area to deliver same efficiency. Especially, the use of custom 3D‐printed spiral packing with elaborated wall film flow combined with rotation supported liquid distribution allows using absorbents with viscosities as high as 100 mPa·s at low pressure drop increase. However, small dimensions severely limit the performance of a laboratory‐scale RPB as the casing contributes disproportionally to mass transfer.
Solid‐State Alkaline Fuel Cell Performance of Pentablock Terpolymer with Methylpyrrolidinium Cations as Anion Exchange Membrane and Ionomer
Authors: Hwang M. , Sun R. , Willis C. , Elabd Y. A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn this study, pentablock terpolymers with methylpyrrolidinium cations were characterized and investigated as anion exchange membranes and ionomers for solid‐state alkaline fuel cells. The pentablock terpolymer (with methylpyrrolidinium cations) membranes exhibited higher fuel cell power density and durability than commercial FuMA‐Tech (with quaternary ammonium cations) membranes at 30 °C, 100% relative humidity (RH). Optimization of the catalyst ink composition (i.e., solids and solvent ratio) and fuel cell performance of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) with pentablock terpolymers as both the membrane and ionomer were also investigated. Optimization of the fuel cell operating conditions corroborates with the in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results. The pentablock terpolymer MEA exhibited a maximum power density of 83.3 mW cm−2 and voltage decay rate of 0.7 mV h−1 after 100 h of operation under 40 °C, 100% RH. These results show promise for pentablock terptolymers with methylpyrrolidinium cations as a commercially attractive low‐cost alternative anion exchange membrane and ionomer for solid‐state alkaline fuel cells.
Computing and visualising intra‐voxel orientation‐specific relaxation–diffusion features in the human brain
Authors: de Almeida Martins João P. , Tax Chantal M. W. , Reymbaut Alexis , Szczepankiewicz Filip , Chamberland Maxime , Jones Derek K. , Topgaard Daniel 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDiffusion MRI techniques are used widely to study the characteristics of the human brain connectome in vivo. However, to resolve and characterise white matter (WM) fibres in heterogeneous MRI voxels remains a challenging problem typically approached with signal models that rely on prior information and constraints. We have recently introduced a 5D relaxation–diffusion correlation framework wherein multidimensional diffusion encoding strategies are used to acquire data at multiple echo‐times to increase the amount of information encoded into the signal and ease the constraints needed for signal inversion. Nonparametric Monte Carlo inversion of the resulting datasets yields 5D relaxation–diffusion distributions where contributions from different sub‐voxel tissue environments are separated with minimal assumptions on their microscopic properties. Here, we build on the 5D correlation approach to derive fibre‐specific metrics that can be mapped throughout the imaged brain volume. Distribution components ascribed to fibrous tissues are resolved, and subsequently mapped to a dense mesh of overlapping orientation bins to define a smooth orientation distribution function (ODF). Moreover, relaxation and diffusion measures are correlated to each independent ODF coordinate, thereby allowing the estimation of orientation‐specific relaxation rates and diffusivities. The proposed method is tested on a healthy volunteer, where the estimated ODFs were observed to capture major WM tracts, resolve fibre crossings, and, more importantly, inform on the relaxation and diffusion features along with distinct fibre bundles. If combined with fibre‐tracking algorithms, the methodology presented in this work has potential for increasing the depth of characterisation of microstructural properties along individual WM pathways.
Recurrent amplification of grid‐cell activity
Authors: D'Albis Tiziano , Kempter Richard 
Published: October 2020

AbstractHigh‐level cognitive abilities such as navigation and spatial memory are thought to rely on the activity of grid cells in the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC), which encode the animal's position in space with periodic triangular patterns. Yet the neural mechanisms that underlie grid‐cell activity are still unknown. Recent in vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that grid cells are embedded in highly structured recurrent networks. But how could recurrent connectivity become structured during development? And what is the functional role of these connections? With mathematical modeling and simulations, we show that recurrent circuits in the MEC could emerge under the supervision of weakly grid‐tuned feedforward inputs. We demonstrate that a learned excitatory connectivity could amplify grid patterns when the feedforward sensory inputs are available and sustain attractor states when the sensory cues are lost. Finally, we propose a Fourier‐based measure to quantify the spatial periodicity of grid patterns: the grid‐tuning index.
Governance disclosure quality and market valuation of firms in UK and Germany
Authors: Ullah Subhan , Ahmad Sardar , Akbar Saeed , Kodwani Devendra , Frecknall‐Hughes Jane 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis study develops a “comply or explain” index which captures compliance and quality of explanations given for non‐compliance with the corporate governance codes in UK and Germany. In particular, we explain, how compliance and quality of explanations provided in non‐compliance disclosures, and various other internal corporate governance mechanisms, affect the market valuation of firms in the two countries. A dynamic generalised method of moments (GMM) estimator is employed as the research technique for our analysis, which enabled us to control for the potential effects of endogeneity in our models. The findings of our content analysis suggest that firms exhibit significant differences in compliance, board independence and ownership structure in both countries. The “comply or explain” index is positively associated with the market valuation of UK firms suggesting that compliance and quality governance disclosure are value relevant in the UK. Institutional blockholders' ownership is, however, negatively associated with the market value of firms, which raises questions about the monitoring role of institutional shareholders in both countries. We argue that both compliance and explanations given for non‐compliance are equally important, as long as valid reasons and justifications for non‐compliance are provided by the reporting companies. These findings thus imply that the “comply or explain” principle is working well and that UK and German companies could benefit from the flexibility offered by this principle. With respect to the role of board size, board independence, ownership structure, and institutional ownership of firms, this study offers policy implications.
The SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic scenario in Africa: What should be done to address the needs of pregnant women?
Authors: Charles Charles M’poca , Amoah Emefa Modey , Kourouma Kadidiatou Raissa , Bahamondes Luis Guilhermo , Cecatti José Guilherme , Osman Nafissa Bique , Govule Philip , Diallo Abdou Karim , Sacarlal Jahit , Pacagnella Rodolfo de Carvalho 
Published: October 2020

SynopsisThe need for prospective monitoring of COVID‐19 cases among pregnant women, and coordinated information‐sharing to inform pragmatic responses to the pandemic in the context of LMICs, is greater now than ever.
Prognostic factors associated with cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in recurrent ovarian cancer
Authors: Ayhan Ali , Akilli Huseyin 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo identify factors affecting survival for women undergoing cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).MethodsA retrospective study at Baskent University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Data were evaluated for 71 women with recurrent ovarian cancer who underwent cytoreductive surgery with R0 resection plus HIPEC between 2016 and 2019. Potential factors affecting survival (platinum sensitivity, bevacizumab administration before HIPEC, albumin and CA125 levels, presence of ascites, age, number of chemotherapy lines, and time interval between last chemotherapy and HIPEC) were evaluated. Complications of HIPEC were documented.ResultsThe median age was 58 years, and the median follow‐up was 12 months. In univariate analyses, platinum sensitivity, albumin level, and time since last chemotherapy cycle affected overall survival. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, use of bevacizumab before HIPEC (hazard ratio [HR], 6.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39–32.3; P=0.018) and presence of ascites (HR, 5.3; 95% CI, 1.65–17.5; P=0.005) were independent negative prognostic factors. Seven (8.9%) women experienced grade III–IV complications.ConclusionIn recurrent ovarian cancer, HIPEC is a promising treatment with mild‐to‐moderate toxicity. However, the presence of ascites and progression under bevacizumab treatment before HIPEC seem to be negative prognostic factors; these findings will be important for patient selection.
My Life the Way I See It: Reconstructing Minoritized Youth With Disabilities as Critical Thinkers
Authors: Leu Grace Shih-en 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe author looked closely at students’ artifacts as a way to consider how students with disabilities engage in critical literacy to develop critical consciousness of their worlds and re‐create positive identities of themselves. Findings include how high school minoritized students with disabilities create counternarratives that reject dominant narratives of their identities as underachievers and academically deficient. Students’ work revealed their critical consciousness of problems within policing and urban schooling and reconstructed themselves as academically successful, persistent in overcoming difficulties, and hopeful of a positive future. Significance for educators includes the possibilities of teaching students with disabilities using a general education curriculum.
The performance of 3D bioscaffolding based on a human periodontal ligament stem cell printing technique
Authors: Tian Yinping , Liu Minyi , Liu Yaoyao , Shi Changzheng , Wang Yayu , Liu Tong , Huang Yi , Zhong Peihua , Dai Jian , Liu Xiangning 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBone tissue plays an important role in supporting and protecting the structure and function of the human body. Bone defects are a common source of injury and there are many reconstruction challenges in clinical practice. However, 3D bioprinting of scaffolds provides a promising solution. Hydrogels have emerged as biomaterials with good biocompatibility and are now widely used as cell‐loaded materials for bioprinting. This study involved three steps: First, sodium alginate (SA), gelatin (Gel), and nano‐hydroxyapatite (na‐HA) were mixed into a hydrogel and its rheological properties assessed to identify the optimum slurry for printing. Second, SA/Gel/na‐HA bioscaffolds were printed using 3D bioprinting technology and their physical properties characterized for surface morphology, swelling, and mechanical properties. Finally, human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) were mixed with SA/Gel/na‐HA printing slurry to create a “bioink” to prepare SA/Gel/na‐HA/ hPDLSCs cell bioscaffolds. These were tested for biocompatibility and osteogenic differentiation performance using live/dead cell staining, cell adhesion, cell proliferation, and alkaline phosphatase activity. The SA/Gel/na‐HA hydrogel exhibited shear‐thinning behavior. The equilibrium swelling of the bioscaffold was 125.9%, the compression stress was 0.671 MPa, and the compression elastic modulus was 8.27 MPa. The SA/Gel/na‐HA/hPDLSCs cell bioscaffolds caused effective stimulation of cell survival, proliferation, and osteoblast differentiation. Therefore, the SA/Gel/na‐HA/hPDLSCs cell bioscaffolds displayed potential as a material for bone defect reconstruction.
Autophagy displays divergent roles during intermittent amino acid starvation and toxic stress‐induced senescence in cultured skeletal muscle cells
Authors: Bloemberg Darin , Quadrilatero Joe 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDue to the ever‐expanding functions attributed to autophagy, there is widespread interest in understanding its contribution to human physiology; however, its specific cellular role as a stress‐response mechanism is still poorly defined. To investigate autophagy's role in this regard, we repeatedly subjected cultured mouse myoblasts to two stresses with diverse impacts on autophagic flux: amino acid and serum withdrawal (Hank's balanced salt solution [HBSS]), which robustly induces autophagy, or low‐level toxic stress (staurosporine, STS). We found that intermittent STS (int‐STS) administration caused cell cycle arrest, development of enlarged and misshapen cells/nuclei, increased senescence‐associated heterochromatic foci and senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase activity, and prevented myogenic differentiation. These features were not observed in cells intermittently incubated in HBSS (int‐HB). While int‐STS cells displayed less DNA damage (phosphorylated H2A histone family, member X content) and caspase activity when administered cisplatin, int‐HB cells were protected from STS‐induced cell death. Interestingly, STS‐induced senescence was attenuated in autophagy related 7‐deficient cells. Therefore, while repeated nutrient withdrawal did not cause senescence, autophagy was required for senescence caused by toxic stress. These results illustrate the context‐dependent effects of different stressors, potentially highlighting autophagy as a distinguishing factor.
Combination of ethanol and Fe3O4@C‐SO3H pretreatment of Eucalyptus for glucose release via enzymatic saccharification
Authors: Luo Jia , Qian Le , Zhu Yu‐Qin , Zhang Fan , Jiang Li‐Qun 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDEnzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose is regarded as the most efficient route to producing fermentable sugars, one kind of promising future biofuel, while physiochemical pretreatment is the initial but most critical step for the efficient utilization of lignocellulose.RESULTSIn this study, a recoverable carbonaceous solid acid catalyst Fe3O4@C‐SO3H was used in combined organosolv pretreatment of Eucalyptus biomass at 140–180 °C with 50 vol% ethanol. The introduction of solid acid in ethanol pretreatment remarkably alleviated the requirement of smaller biomass size, but provided less influence on cellulosic degradation, which benefited the subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis to glucose. After the pretreatment using 50 vol% ethanol and 20% catalyst at 160 °C, 60.3% hemicellulose and 52.6% lignin were removed from Eucalyptus (75–250 μm) within 60 min, which resulted in a cellulose retention ratio of >90% and improved hydrolysis efficiency by nearly 20 and 2 folds, respectively, compared to untreated and ethanol pretreated materials.CONCLUSIONThis study explored a novel pretreatment technique to improve the efficiency of enzymatic saccharification. It also demonstrated that the hydrolysis yield of cellulose had significantly positive correlation with the removal of lignin and hemicellulose in Eucalyptus, but was less affected by cellulose crystallinity. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Monocyte subsets predict mortality after cardiac arrest
Authors: Krychtiuk Konstantin A , Lenz Max , Richter Bernhard , Hohensinner Philipp J , Kastl Stefan P , Mangold Andreas , Huber Kurt , Hengstenberg Christian , Wojta Johann , Heinz Gottfried , Speidl Walter S 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
After successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), many patients show signs of an overactive immune activation. Monocytes are a heterogeneous cell population that can be distinguished into 3 subsets by flow cytometry (classical monocytes [CM: CD14++CD16-], intermediate monocytes [IM: CD14++CD16+CCR2+] and non-classical monocytes [NCM: CD14+CD16++CCR2-]). Fifty-three patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) after cardiac arrest were included. Blood was taken on admission and after 72 h. The primary endpoint of this study was survival at 6 months and the secondary endpoint was neurological outcome as determined by cerebral performance category (CPC)-score at 6 months. Median age was 64.5 (49.8-74.3) years and 75.5% were male. Six-month mortality was 50.9% and survival with good neurological outcome was 37.7%. Monocyte subset distribution upon admission to the ICU did not differ according to survival. Seventy-two hours after admission, patients who died within 6 months showed a higher percentage of the pro-inflammatory subset of IM (8.3% [3.8-14.6]% vs. 4.1% [1.5–8.2]%; P = 0.025), and a lower percentage of CM (87.5% [79.9–89.0]% vs. 90.8% [85.9–92.7]%; P = 0.036) as compared to survivors. In addition, IM were predictive of outcome independent of time to ROSC and witnessed cardiac arrest, and correlated with CPC-score at 6 months (R = 0.32; P = 0.043). These findings suggest a possible role of the innate immune system in the pathophysiology of post cardiac arrest syndrome.