bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
One psychological second does not necessarily last 1000 ms
Authors: Grondin Simon , Laflamme Vincent , Tétreault Emie 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe duration of the representation of 1 s was estimated with two methods: (a) the adjustments of the duration of a sound and (b) the production of 10 s with counts from 1 to 11. The estimations were not close to 1 s and varied considerably. Assuming that the representation of 1 s is close to 1000 ms could well be misleading.
Exposure to guideline‐recommended drugs after a first acute myocardial infarction in older adults: does deprivation matter?
Authors: Akator Adjo Enyonam , Blais Claudia , Gamache Philippe , Lunghi Carlotta , Guénette Line 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundInequities between guideline‐recommended drugs (GRD) exposure and socioeconomic status might exist. The objective was to assess the association between a material and a social deprivation index and GRD exposure following a first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in older adults in the province of Quebec.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Quebec Integrated Chronic Disease Surveillance System. Elderly ≥66 years, hospitalized for a first AMI between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2011 and covered by the public drug plan were identified. Exposure to GRD (i.e. simultaneous use of 1) antiplatelet, 2) beta‐blocker, 3) lipid‐lowering and 4) angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker drugs) was assessed 30 and 365 days following hospital discharge. Associations between deprivation index and GRD exposure were estimated with log‐binomial regressions adjusting for potential confounders.ResultsExposure to GRD was 52.2% and 48.0%, 30 and 365 days after hospital discharge, respectively. No statistically significant association was observed in multivariate analysis for both time points. Thirty days post hospital discharge, adjusted prevalence ratio of non‐exposure to GRD was 0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.95‐1.02) for most materially deprived vs. least deprived and 1.04 (95% CI: 0.99‐1.08) for most socially deprived vs. least deprived. Similar results were observed for 365 days.ConclusionExposure to GRD after a first urgent AMI among older adults insured by the public drug plan in the province of Quebec is relatively low. Reasons and risk groups for this low exposure should be studied to improve secondary prevention. However, results suggest equitable access to GRD, regardless of deprivation.
Fabrication of an Optochemical Sensor Based on Triacetylcellulose Polymer for Colorimetric Determination of Trinitrotoluene
Authors: Shafiee Mehdi , Larki Arash , Faal Ali Yeganeh 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe development of an optochemical sensor for colorimetric determination of trinitrotoluene (TNT) from aqueous samples is described. The optode film was formed based on the immobilization of trioctylmethylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336) on a triacetylcellulose membrane, which acts as a fixed carrier and anion‐exchanger. When the colorless and transparent optochemical sensor are employed in TNT solution samples, a red‐orange color with maximum absorption wavelength at 530 nm develops in consequence of formation of TNT‐Aliquat 336 ion pair in the sensor membrane. The optical response of this optode is being proportional to concentration of TNT in aqueous solution. Various experimental parameters such as pH, optode composition, response time and reversibility have been studied and optimized. The analytical performance of the optode was evaluated, obtaining a linear response over the range of 1.0 to 16.0 mg/L, a limit of detection of 0.14 mg/L, good reproducibility and selectivity. The sensor was seen to exhibit a fully reversible response. The developed optode in the present work was applied to the determination of TNT in water and soil samples with satisfactory results.
Study of the Impact Energy Release Characteristics of Fine‐Grained Fe−Al Energetic Jets
Authors: Li Qiang , Du Ye , Jiang Chunlan 
Published: December 2019

AbstractFine‐grained Fe−Al energetic materials have high reaction enthalpies, and the release energy of the iron phase and a large portion of the active aluminium phase in sintered materials enables the replacement of conventional materials in new types of weapons. To study the energy release characteristics of fine‐grained Fe−Al energetic jets under impact loading, a dynamic energy acquisition system is established to quantify the energy generated by the response of fine‐grained Fe−Al energetic jets to impact targets. The pressure‐time curves of fine‐grained Fe−Al energetic jets with different ratios under different impact conditions are obtained, and a method for calculating the pressure differential value is proposed to quantitatively determine the energy release values of fine‐grained Fe−Al energetic jets. The energy release mechanism of the Fe−Al energetic jet is analysed at the micro‐level by recovering the reaction products. The results show that there is an optimal Fe−Al ratio that attains the greatest energy release effect from fine‐grained Fe−Al energetic jets. With increasing impact energy, the energy released by energetic jets tends to increase, and an impact energy threshold that saturates the chemical reaction of energetic materials in the jets exists. The relationship between the impact conditions and the energy release value of fine‐grained Fe−Al energetic jets is established.
Ultra‐high performance supercritical fluid chromatography combined with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry for the characterization of pentaerythritol fatty acid esters
Authors: Tang Yan , Pan Jinheng , Sun Tangqiang , Hu Yajing , Du Zhenxia 
Published: December 2019

RationalePentaerythritol fatty acid esters are an excellent lubricant oil additive, due to their good biodegradability, thermal ability, anti‐wear, and friction properties. However, to meet the application requirements, fatty acids with different alkyl chain lengths are reacted with pentaerythritol, resulting in complex ester compositions. To reveal the relation between the functionalities and the composition of esters, it is important to develop a method for their analysis.MethodsWe developed a method using ultra‐high‐performance supercritical fluid chromatography combined with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UHPSFC/QTOF‐MS) to separate and characterize pentaerythritol fatty acid esters. This method has the advantages such as short analysis time and high separation efficiency for such weakly polar compounds; high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) provides exact mass information, enabling the identification of the structure of the pentaerythritol fatty acid esters.ResultsBased on the exact masses and characteristic ions, the pentaerythritol fatty acid esters and their main fragmentation pathways were identified; the fatty acid composition was also deduced from characteristic product ions. A dihydrogen rearrangement reaction caused the neutral loss of fatty acid fragment; [M + Na‐FA]+ product ions (a stable six‐member ring structure) were produced due to the absence of a γ hydrogen in pentaerythritol fatty acid esters.ConclusionsA UHPSFC/QTOF‐MS method was successfully employed for the separation of pentaerythritol fatty acid esters. Exact masses and product ion information were determined using HRMS. The composition of the fatty acids was effectively deduced by characteristic ions and their relative abundances. This method is an effective means for the quality control and process optimization of this type of product, serving as a positive reference for further study on pentaerythritol fatty acid esters.
Effects of polystyrene microbeads on cytotoxicity and transcriptomic profiles in human Caco‐2 cells
Authors: Wu Shijin , Wu Mei , Tian Dongcan , Qiu Lequan , Li Tongtong 
Published: December 2019

AbstractMicroplastics (MPs) pollution is a global paradigm that raises concern in relation to environment and human health. In order to investigate the molecular toxicity mechanisms of MPs, transcriptomic analyses were performed on in vitro Caco‐2 cell model. After observing that polystyrene microplastics (PS‐MPs) decreased cell viability in a dose‐dependent manner, the responsible genes and involved pathways that might make contribution to PS‐MBs‐induced toxicity to Caco‐2 cells were identified with Illumina RNA seq. A total of 442 genes including, 210 up‐regulated ones and 232 down‐regulated ones, showed differential expression after treatment by PS‐MPs with a concentration of 12.5 mg L−1 or 50.0 mg L−1 for 24 hours. Gene Ontology (GO) annotation enriched unigenes can be grouped into three separated clusters: cellular component (CC), biological process (BP), and molecular function (MF). The dominate pathways related to NF‐κB, MAPK signaling, cytokine‐cytokine receptor interaction, and toll‐like receptor were strongly influenced by PS‐MBs. These pathways are involved in modulating cell inflammatory and proliferation. The qPCR were applied to investigate the transcriptional level of five proliferation related genes (Ras, ERK, MER, CDK4, Cyclin D1) and four inflammation related genes (TRPV1, iNOS, IL‐1β, IL‐8), and the results were consistent with RNA‐seq data. This study has provided new insight into the understanding of the toxicity effects of PS‐MBs‐induced intestinal inflammatory diseases.
Challenge for the detection of microplastics in the environment
Authors: Lv Lulu , Yan Xiemin , Feng Limin , Jiang Shiqi , Lu Zifan , Xie Huifeng , Sun Shengli , Chen Jinjun , Li Chengyong 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAs an emerging contaminant in the environment, microplastics have attracted worldwide attention. Although research methods on microplastics in the environment have been reported extensively, the data on microplastics obtained cannot be comparable due to different methods. In this work, we critically reviewed the analytical methods of microplastics, including sample collection, separation, identification, and quantification. Manta trawl and tweezers or cassette corers are used to collect water samples and sediments, respectively. For biota sample, internal organs need to be dissected and separated to obtain microplastics. Density differences are often used to separate microplastics from the sample matrix. Visual classification is one of the most common methods for identifying microplastics, and it can be better detected by combining it with other instruments. However, they are not suitable for detection nanoplastics, which may lead to underestimation of risk. The abundance of microplastics varies with the detection method. Thus, the analytical methods for microplastics need to be standardized as soon as possible. Meanwhile, new methods for analyzing nanoplastics are urgently needed.Practitioner points

Sampling, separation, identification, and quantification are important procedures.

The sampling and separation methods for microplastics need to be standardized.

The organic matter can be removed by digestion to facilitate identification.

Combine microscope with analytical instruments to better identify microplastics.

There is still a challenge to quantification of smaller‐sized plastic particles.
FinTech, InsurTech, and the Regulators
Authors: Chatzara Viktoria 
Published: December 2019

AbstractConsidering the rapid evolution and penetration of technology in the financial sector in general, and in the insurance sector more specifically, FinTech and InsurTech respectively are destined to affect the scope and the implementation of applicable regulation. A number of issues arise: which are the value chain participants that will be ultimately subject to regulation? Who is the competent regulator from a sectoral point of view? How will the geographic scope of each national regulator’s powers be delineated, considering the global character of FinTech services? What should be the appropriate regulatory tools and methods to be applied? These issues are outlined in Sect. 1. A number of international organizations and fora are approaching and examining the FinTech/ InsurTech phenomenon, to assess its possible benefits and implications for the regulated markets. The activities undertaken by the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) are briefly presented in Sect. 2. From a European perspective, EU authorities and institutions, including the three European Supervisory Authorities (EIOPA, EBA, and ESMA) also undertake initiatives, targeted at better comprehending the FinTech/ InsurTech phenomenon, as described in Sect. 3. Finally, there are a number of national regulators who are proactive on the national level and undertake measures aiming to foster technological innovation, in the provision of financial and insurance services, as mentioned in Sect. 4.The regulatory activity is evolving very fast. It is still in a rather preliminary phase, but a large amount of new rules is expected to be produced within the next 2 or 3 years.
Understanding vaccine acceptance and demand—and ways to increase them
Authors: Habersaat Katrine Bach , Jackson Cath 
Published: December 2019

AbstractVaccination saves millions of lives, and the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region celebrated record high coverage in 2018. Still, national or sub-national coverage is insufficient to stop the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases. Health authorities are increasingly aware of the need to prioritize the “demand” side of vaccination. Achieving high and equitable vaccination uptake in all population groups is not a quick-fix; it requires long-term investment in multifaceted interventions, informed by research with the target groups. The WHO focuses on both individual and context determinants of vaccination behaviours. Individual determinants include risk perceptions, (dis)trust and perceived constraints; insights from psychology help us understand these. Context determinants include social norms, socioeconomic status and education level, and the way health systems are designed, operate and are financed. The WHO recommends using a proven theoretical model to understand vaccination behaviours and has adapted the “COM‑B model” for their Tailoring Immunization Programmes (TIP) approach. This adapted model is described in the article. Informed by insights into the factors affecting vaccination behaviours, interventions and policies can be planned to increase vaccination uptake. Some evidence exists on proven methods to do this. At the individual level, some interventions have been seen to increase vaccination uptake, and experimental studies have assessed how certain messages or actions affect vaccination perceptions. At the context level, there is more documentation for effective strategies, including those that focus on making vaccination the easy, convenient and default behaviour and that focus on the interaction between caregivers and health workers.
Molecular mechanisms mediating root hydrotropism: what we have observed since the rediscovery of hydrotropism
Authors: Miyazawa Yutaka , Takahashi Hideyuki 
Published: December 2019

AbstractRoots display directional growth toward moisture in response to a water potential gradient. Root hydrotropism is thought to facilitate plant adaptation to continuously changing water availability. Hydrotropism has not been as extensively studied as gravitropism. However, comparisons of hydrotropic and gravitropic responses identified mechanisms that are unique to hydrotropism. Regulatory mechanisms underlying the hydrotropic response appear to differ among different species. We recently performed molecular and genetic analyses of root hydrotropism in Arabidopsis thaliana. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of specific mechanisms mediating root hydrotropism in several plant species.
Hiking trails as conduits for the spread of non-native species in mountain areas
Authors: Liedtke Rebecca , Barros Agustina , Essl Franz , Lembrechts Jonas J. , Wedegärtner Ronja E. M. , Pauchard Aníbal , Dullinger Stefan 
Published: December 2019

AbstractRoadsides are major pathways of plant invasions in mountain regions. However, the increasing importance of tourism may also turn hiking trails into conduits of non-native plant spread to remote mountain landscapes. Here, we evaluated the importance of such trails for plant invasion in five protected mountain areas of southern central Chile. We therefore sampled native and non-native species along 17 trails and in the adjacent undisturbed vegetation. We analyzed whether the number and cover of non-native species in local plant assemblages is related to distance to trail and a number of additional variables that characterize the abiotic and biotic environment as well as the usage of the trail. We found that non-native species at higher elevations are a subset of the lowland source pool and that their number and cover decreases with increasing elevation and with distance to trails, although this latter variable only explained 4–8% of the variation in the data. In addition, non-native richness and cover were positively correlated with signs of livestock presence but negatively with the presence of intact forest vegetation. These results suggest that, at least in the region studied, hiking trails have indeed fostered non-native species spread to higher elevations, although less efficiently than roadsides. As a corollary, appropriate planning and management of trails could become increasingly important to control plant invasions into mountains in a world which is warming and where visitation and recreational use of mountainous areas is expected to increase.
The Profiles and Correlates of Psychopathology in Adolescents and Adults with Williams, Fragile X and Prader–Willi Syndromes
Authors: Royston R. , Oliver C. , Howlin P. , Dosse A. , Armitage P. , Moss J. , Waite J. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPsychopathology is prevalent in Williams (WS), fragile X (FXS) and Prader–Willi (PWS) syndromes. However, little is known about the potential correlates of psychopathology in these groups. A questionnaire study was completed by 111 caregivers of individuals with WS (n = 35); FXS (n = 50) and PWS (n = 26). Mean age was 26 years (range 12–57 years); 74 (67%) were male. Multiple regression analyses indicated that higher rates of health problems and sensory impairments predicted higher psychopathology in WS (p < .0001). In PWS, poorer adaptive ability predicted higher overall psychiatric disturbance (p = .001), generalised anxiety (p = .006) and hyperactivity (p = .003). There were no significant predictors in FXS. This study highlights dissociations in the potential risk markers of psychopathology between genetic syndromes. Implications for intervention are discussed.
Identifying archaeological evidence of past earthquakes in a contemporary disaster scenario: case studies of damage, resilience and risk reduction from the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake and past seismic events within the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Property (Nepal)
Authors: Davis Christopher , Coningham Robin , Acharya Kosh Prasad , Kunwar Ram Bahadur , Forlin Paolo , Weise Kai , Maskey Prem Nath , Joshi Anie , Simpson Ian , Toll David , Wilkinson Sean , Hughes Paul , Sarhosis Vasilis , Kumar Ashutosh , Schmidt Armin 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe 2015 Gorkha Earthquake was a humanitarian disaster but also a cultural catastrophe that damaged and destroyed historic monuments across Nepal, including those within the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Property. In the rush to rebuild, traditionally constructed foundations are being removed and replaced with modern materials without assessments of whether these contributed to the collapse of a monument. Generally undertaken without scientific recording, these interventions have led to the irreversible destruction of earlier subsurface phases of cultural activity and the potential loss of evidence for successful traditional seismic adaptations and risk reduction strategies, with no research into whether modern materials, such as concrete and steel, would offer enhanced resilience. In response to this context, multidisciplinary post-disaster investigations were undertaken between 2015 and 2018, including archaeological excavation, geophysical survey, geoarchaeological analysis, linked to architectural and engineering studies, to begin to evaluate and assess the damage to, and seismic adaptations of, historic structures within Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley. Where possible, we draw on archaeoseismological approaches for the identification and classification of Earthquake Archaeological Effects (EAEs) at selected monuments damaged by the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake. Lessons learned from evidence of potential weaknesses, as well as historic ‘risk-sensitive tactics’ of hazard reduction within monuments, are now being incorporated into reconstruction and rehabilitation initiatives alongside the development of methods for the protection of heritage in the face of future earthquakes.
Ongoing, but slowing, habitat loss in a rural landscape over 85 years
Authors: Ridding Lucy E. , Watson Stephen C. L. , Newton Adrian C. , Rowland Clare S. , Bullock James M. 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Context
Studies evaluating biodiversity loss and altered ecosystem services have tended to examine changes over the last few decades, despite the fact that land use change and its negative impacts have been occurring over a much longer period. Examining past land use change, particularly over the long-term and multiple time periods, is essential for understanding how rates and drivers of change have varied historically.

Objectives
To quantify and assess patterns of change in semi-natural habitats across a rural landscape at five time points between 1930 and 2015.

Methods
We determined the habitat cover at over 3700 sites across the county of Dorset, southern England in 1930, 1950, 1980, 1990 and 2015, using historical vegetation surveys, re-surveys, historical maps and other contemporary spatial data.

Results
Considerable declines in semi-natural habitats occurred across the Dorset landscape between 1930 and 2015. This trend was non-linear for the majority of semi-natural habitats, with the greatest losses occurring between 1950 and 1980. This period coincides with the largest gains to arable and improved grassland, reflecting agricultural expansion after the Second World War. Although the loss of semi-natural habitats declined after this period, largely because there were very few sites left to convert, there were still a number of habitats lost within the last 25 years.

Conclusions
The findings illustrate a long history of habitat loss in the UK, and are important for planning landscape management and ameliorative actions, such as restoration. Our analysis also highlights the role of statutory protection in retaining semi-natural habitats, suggesting the need for continued protection of important habitats.