bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of Internet usage on dietary quality: Evidence from rural China
Authors: Cui Yi , Glauben Thomas , Si Wei , Zhao Qiran 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe popularity of Internet usage in rural China is on the rise while improving the nutritional status of Chinese rural residents remains a major issue due to prevalent unbalanced diets and deficiencies in some nutrients. However, there is a scarcity of empirical evidence linking these two aspects. The relationship between Internet usage and dietary quality remains inconclusive in both developed and developing countries. Using data from a survey of 2053 households in rural China, this paper examines the relationship between Internet usage and dietary quality among Chinese rural residents by employing an endogenous switching regression model to address the issue of selection bias. The empirical results reveal that respondents' gender, age, years of education, and household income significantly influenced their decisions to use the Internet, and Internet usage significantly improve dietary quality of their household. The findings of the heterogeneous analysis show that the impact of Internet usage on dietary quality varies based on respondents' dietary knowledge, per capita annual income, and household food expenditure. Through mechanism analysis, we find that Internet usage can improve the dietary quality by increasing the possibility of online food purchasing and fostering a more positive dietary attitude. [EconLit Citations: I12, O15, O33].
A pH‐responsive nanoparticle delivery system containing dihydralazine and doxorubicin‐based prodrug for enhancing antitumor efficacy
Authors: Zhang Lianxue , Huang Jianxiang , Buratto Damiano , Han Panli , Yang Zaixing , Zhou Ruhong 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe efficacy of nanoparticle (NP)‐based drug delivery technology is hampered by aberrant tumor stromal microenvironments (TSMs) that hinder NP transportation. Therefore, the promotion of NP permeation into deep tumor sites via the regulation of tumor microenvironments is of critical importance. Herein, we propose a potential solution using a dihydralazine (HDZ)‐loaded nanoparticle drug delivery system containing a pH‐responsive, cyclic RGD peptide‐modified prodrug based on doxorubicin (cRGD‐Dex‐DOX). With a combined experimental and theoretical approach, we find that the designed NP system can recognize the acid tumor environments and precisely release the encapsulated HDZ into tumor tissues. HDZ can notably downregulate the expression levels of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF1α), α‐smooth muscle actin, and fibronectin through the dilation of tumor blood vessels. These changes in the TSMs enhance the enrichment and penetration of NPs and also unexpectedly promote the infiltration of activated T cells into tumors, suggesting that such a system may offer an effective “multifunctional therapy” through both improving the chemotherapeutic effect and enhancing the immune response to tumors. In vivo experiments on 4T1 breast cancer bearing mice indeed validate that this therapy has the most outstanding antitumor effects over all the other tested control regimens, with the lowest side effects as well.
Reducing Indigenous suicide: Recognizing vital land and food systems for livelihoods
Authors: Elliott Emma , Bang Megan 
Published: October 2023

AbstractColonial trauma poses a significant risk to the physical, intellectual, and mental health of Indigenous youth and young adults. Education and mental health scholars are increasingly concerned about the emotional wellbeing of young people, particularly as rates of suicide have increased across the United States. With interest in identifying the unique contextual dynamics involved in understanding Indigenous suicide, this work considers characteristics related to colonialism that may uncover strategies for both educators and mental health practitioners that address disparities. Drawing on a larger ethnographic study, this inquiry asks how settler encroachment upon Indigenous land and food systems is related to death by suicide from the perspective of Cowichan Tribes members. Comprehensive semi‐structured interviews were conducted (n = 21); each interview was audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed deductively based upon a priori suppositions related to settler colonial theory. Cowichan members' narrated explanations for suicide rooted in disruptions to (1) relationships with the land and (2) traditional food systems. They described how settler encroachment infringed upon their subsistence way of living and introduced incongruent constructions of nature‐culture relations (e.g., humans as distinct and separate from the natural world). Settler futurity is secured through the arrogation of territorial dominance coupled with physical or conceptual acts of erasure, placing Indigenous lives and lifeways at risk. One outcome of the disruption to Indigenous collective capacities is a dramatic increase in Indigenous suicide.
Elder abuse prevalence among older people living in the community in Australia
Authors: Qu Lixia , Kaspiew Rae , Carson Rachel , Rooppani Dinika , De Maio John , Harvey Jacqui , Horsfall Briony 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe National Elder Abuse Prevalence Study, conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, was the first major national study to gauge the prevalence and nature of elder abuse in Australia. [The phrase, “conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies”, was added to the preceding sentence on 19 October 2023, after first online publication.] A survey of older people aged 65 years and older living in private dwellings was carried out in 2020, with 7000 participants across the nation who were interviewed by telephone. The survey data suggested that 14.8 per cent of the population aged 65 and older who live in the community (rather than residential care settings) have experienced elder abuse in the past 12 months. Psychological abuse was found to be the most common subtype (11.7 per cent), followed by neglect (2.9 per cent), financial abuse (2.1 per cent), physical abuse (1.8 per cent) and sexual abuse (0.7 per cent). Interconnected with an experience of elder abuse were poorer physical health, poorer psychological health and a lower sense of social support. The findings demonstrate that elder abuse has strong familial dynamics, with perpetrators involving intergenerational and intimate partner relationships to a significant extent. Most older people who experienced elder abuse tended to manage the experience themselves—not seeking help, taking actions which would not expose the perpetrator.
Multivariate word properties in fluency tasks reveal markers of Alzheimer's dementia
Authors: Ferrante Franco J. , Migeot Joaquín , Birba Agustina , Amoruso Lucía , Pérez Gonzalo , Hesse Eugenia , Tagliazucchi Enzo , Estienne Claudio , Serrano Cecilia , Slachevsky Andrea , Matallana Diana , Reyes Pablo , Ibáñez Agustín , Fittipaldi Sol , Campo Cecilia Gonzalez , García Adolfo M. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractINTRODUCTIONVerbal fluency tasks are common in Alzheimer's disease (AD) assessments. Yet, standard valid response counts fail to reveal disease‐specific semantic memory patterns. Here, we leveraged automated word‐property analysis to capture neurocognitive markers of AD vis‐à‐vis behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD).METHODSPatients and healthy controls completed two fluency tasks. We counted valid responses and computed each word's frequency, granularity, neighborhood, length, familiarity, and imageability. These features were used for group‐level discrimination, patient‐level identification, and correlations with executive and neural (magnetic resonanance imaging [MRI], functional MRI [fMRI], electroencephalography [EEG]) patterns.RESULTSValid responses revealed deficits in both disorders. Conversely, frequency, granularity, and neighborhood yielded robust group‐ and subject‐level discrimination only in AD, also predicting executive outcomes. Disease‐specific cortical thickness patterns were predicted by frequency in both disorders. Default‐mode and salience network hypoconnectivity, and EEG beta hypoconnectivity, were predicted by frequency and granularity only in AD.DISCUSSIONWord‐property analysis of fluency can boost AD characterization and diagnosis.Highlights
We report novel word‐property analyses of verbal fluency in AD and bvFTD.
Standard valid response counts captured deficits and brain patterns in both groups.
Specific word properties (e.g., frequency, granularity) were altered only in AD.
Such properties predicted cognitive and neural (MRI, fMRI, EEG) patterns in AD.
Word‐property analysis of fluency can boost AD characterization and diagnosis.
Angiotensin II‐mediated hippocampal hypoperfusion and vascular dysfunction contribute to vascular cognitive impairment in aged hypertensive rats
Authors: Gannon Olivia , Tremble Sarah M. , McGinn Conor , Guth Ruby , Scoppettone Nadia , Hunt Ryan D. , Prakash Kirtika , Johnson Abbie C. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractINTRODUCTIONChronic hypertension increases the risk of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) by ∼60%; however, how hypertension affects the vasculature of the hippocampus remains unclear but could contribute to VCI.METHODSMemory, hippocampal perfusion, and hippocampal arteriole (HA) function were investigated in male Wistar rats or spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) in early (4 to 5 months old), mid (8 to 9 months old), or late adulthood (14 to 15 months old). SHR in late adulthood were chronically treated with captopril (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor) or apocynin (antioxidant) to investigate the mechanisms by which hypertension contributes to VCI.RESULTSImpaired memory in SHR in late adulthood was associated with HA endothelial dysfunction, hyperconstriction, and ∼50% reduction in hippocampal blood flow. Captopril, but not apocynin, improved HA function, restored perfusion, and rescued memory function in aged SHR.DISCUSSIONHippocampal vascular dysfunction contributes to hypertension‐induced memory decline through angiotensin II signaling, highlighting the therapeutic potential of HAs in protecting neurocognitive health later in life.Highlights
Vascular dysfunction in the hippocampus contributes to vascular cognitive impairment.
Memory declines with age during chronic hypertension.
Angiotensin II causes endothelial dysfunction in the hippocampus in hypertension.
Angiotensin II‐mediated hippocampal arteriole dysfunction reduces blood flow.
Vascular dysfunction in the hippocampus impairs perfusion and memory function.
Intracranial arteriosclerosis and the risk of dementia: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: van den Beukel Tim C. , Wolters Frank J. , Siebert Uwe , Spiering Wilko , Ikram M. Arfan , Vernooij Meike W. , de Jong Pim A. , Bos Daniel 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe impact of intracranial arteriosclerosis on dementia remains largely unclear.METHODSIn 2339 stroke‐free and dementia‐free participants (52.2% women, mean age 69.5 years) from the general population, we assessed intracranial carotid artery calcification (ICAC) and vertebrobasilar artery calcification (VBAC) as proxy for arteriosclerosis. Associations with dementia were assessed using Cox models. In addition, indirect effects through cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) and subcortical brain structure volumes were assessed using causal mediation analyses.RESULTSDuring a median of 13.4 years (25th–75th percentiles 9.9–14.5) of follow‐up, 282 participants developed dementia. Both ICAC presence (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–2.32]) and volume (HR per standard deviation: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.01–1.40) increased dementia risk. For VBAC, severe calcifications increased dementia risk (HR for third vs first volume tertile: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.00–3.59). These effects were mediated partly through increased cSVD (percentage mediated for ICAC: 13% and VBAC: 24%).DISCUSSIONIntracranial arteriosclerosis increases the risk of dementia.
Association of cancer history with structural brain aging markers of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias risk
Authors: Wang Jingxuan , Sims Kendra D. , Ackley Sarah F. , Chen Ruijia , Kobayashi Lindsay C. , Hayes‐Larson Eleanor , Mayeda Elizabeth Rose , Buto Peter , Zimmerman Scott C. , Graff Rebecca E. , Glymour M. Maria 
Published: October 2023

AbstractINTRODUCTIONCancer survivors are less likely than comparably aged individuals without a cancer history to develop Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD).METHODSIn the UK Biobank, we investigated associations between cancer history and five structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers for ADRD risk, using linear mixed‐effects models to assess differences in mean values and quantile regression to examine whether associations varied across the distribution of MRI markers.RESULTSCancer history was associated with smaller mean hippocampal volume (b = ‐19 mm3, 95% CI = ‐36, ‐1) and lower mean cortical thickness in the Alzheimer's disease signature region (b = ‐0.004 mm, 95% CI = ‐0.007, ‐0.000). Quantile regressions indicated individuals most vulnerable to ADRD were more affected by cancer history.DISCUSSIONSome brain MRI markers associated with ADRD risk were elevated in adults with a history of cancer. The magnitude of the adverse associations varied across quantiles of neuroimaging markers, and the pattern suggests possible harmful associations for individuals already at high ADRD risk.Highlights
We found no evidence of an inverse association between cancer history and ADRD‐related neurodegeneration.
Cancer history was associated with smaller mean hippocampal volume and lower mean cortical thickness in the Alzheimer's disease signature region.
Quantile regressions indicated individuals most vulnerable to ADRD were more affected by cancer history.
Controlling the Assembly of Cellulose‐Based Oligosaccharides through Sequence Modifications
Authors: Hribernik Nives , Vargová Denisa , Dal Colle Marlene C. S. , Lim Jia Hui , Fittolani Giulio , Yu Yang , Fujihara Junki , Ludwig Kai , Seeberger Peter H. , Ogawa Yu , Delbianco Martina 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPeptides and nucleic acids with programmable sequences are widely explored for the production of tunable, self‐assembling functional materials. Herein we demonstrate that the primary sequence of oligosaccharides can be designed to access materials with tunable shapes and properties. Synthetic cellulose‐based oligomers were assembled into 2D or 3D rod‐like crystallites. Sequence modifications within the oligosaccharide core influenced the molecular packing and led to the formation of square‐like assemblies based on the rare cellulose IVII allomorph. In contrast, modifications at the termini generated elongated aggregates with tunable surfaces, resulting in self‐healing supramolecular hydrogels.
Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)‐Cephalotanin B
Authors: Sun Zezhong , Jin Shuang , Song Jianing , Niu Lihua , Zhang Fan , Gong Han , Shu Xin , Wang Yunxia , Hu Xiangdong 
Published: October 2023

AbstractCephalotaxus diterpenoids are attractive natural products with intriguing molecular frameworks and promising biological features. As a structurally unusual member, (−)‐cephalotanin B possesses an extraordinarily congested heptacyclic skeleton, three lactone units, and nine consecutive stereocenters. Herein, we report an enantioselective total synthesis of (−)‐cephalotanin B based on a divergent asymmetric Michael addition reaction, a novel Pauson–Khand/deacyloxylation process discovered in the development of a second‐generation stereoselective Pauson–Khand reaction protocol, and an epoxide‐opening/elimination/dual‐lactonization cascade to construct the challenging propeller‐shaped A–B–C ring system as key transformations.
Bayesian Optimization‐guided Discovery of High‐performance Methane Combustion Catalysts based on Multi‐component PtPd@CeZrOx Core–Shell Nanospheres
Authors: Feng Xilan , Gong Xiangrui , Liu Dapeng , Li Yang , Jiang Ying , Zhang Yu 
Published: October 2023

AbstractFormula regulation of multi‐component catalysts by manual search is undoubtedly a time‐consuming task, which has severely impeded the development efficiency of high‐performance catalysts. In this work, PtPd@CeZrOx core–shell nanospheres, as a successful case study, is explicitly demonstrated how Bayesian optimization (BO) accelerates the discovery of methane combustion catalysts with the optimal formula ratio (the Pt/Pd mole ratio ranges from 1/2.33–1/9.09, and Ce/Zr from 1/0.22–1/0.35), which directly results in a lower conversion temperature (T50 approaching to 330 °C) than ones reported hitherto. Consequently, the best sample obtained could be efficiently developed after two rounds of iterations, containing only 18 experiments in all that is far less than the common human workload via the traditional trial‐and‐error search for optimal compositions. Further, this BO‐based machine learning strategy can be straightforward extended to serve the autonomous discovery in multi‐component material systems, for other desired properties, showing promising opportunities to practical applications in future.
UV‐to‐NIR Harvesting Conjugated Porous Polymer Nanocomposite: Upconversion and Plasmon Expedited Thioether Photooxidation
Authors: Jaiswal Shilpi , Giri Arkaprabha , Mandal Dipendranath , Sarkar Madhurima , Patra Abhijit 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPhotocatalysts capable of harvesting a broad range of the solar spectrum are essential for sustainable chemical transformations and environmental remediation. Herein, we have integrated NIR‐absorbing upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) with UV‐Vis absorbing conjugated porous organic polymer (POP) through the in situ multicomponent C−C coupling to fabricate a UC−POP nanocomposite. The light‐harvesting ability of UC−POP is further augmented by loading plasmonic gold nanoparticles (AuNP) into UC−POP. A three‐times enhancement in the upconversion luminescence is observed upon the incorporation of AuNP in UC−POP, subsequently boosting the photocatalytic activity of UC−POP−Au. The spectroscopic and photoelectrochemical investigations infer the enhanced photocatalytic oxidation of thioethers, including mustard gas simulant by UC−POP−Au compared to POP and UC−POP due to the facile electron‐hole pair generation, suppressed exciton recombination, and efficient charge carrier migration. Thus, the unique design strategy of combining plasmonic and upconversion nanoparticles with a conjugated porous organic polymer opens up new vistas towards artificial light harvesting.
Lignin‐derived flame retardant for improving fire safety and mechanical properties of polypropylene
Authors: Zhao Xiaojie , Liu Yuhan , Sun Benhui , Liu Zechi , Shao Zhu‐Bao , Liu Xiaobo , Zhang Huiliang , Sun Zhaoyan , Hu Wei 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIn this work, the self‐assembled lignin‐based flame retardant (LMA) was grafted with γ‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to obtain a novel type of silicon‐containing intumescent flame retardant (LK), which can be applied on polypropylene (PP) to obtain flame retardant PP (PP‐LK). Furthermore, low cost flame retardant PP biocomposite (PP/M/L) with high lignin content were prepared by compounding lignin, LK and PP. The developed PP‐LK and PP/M/L exhibited significant excellent flame retardancy, smoke suppression and mechanical properties. In particular, the UL‐94 test achieved V‐0, and the limit oxygen index (LOI) increased from 17.9% of PP to 28.3% of PP‐LK, and 27.2% of PP/M/L, respectively. Meanwhile, tensile strength and Young's modulus increased by 6.3% and 19.64% for PP‐LK and PP/M/L, respectively. Especially, the tensile strength of PP with 15% LK and 25% lignin achieved 30.88 MPa, and the Young's modulus reached 1415 MPa. The excellent carbonization properties of PP‐LK illustrated that the lignin component of LK had excellent carbonization ability. The prepared LK provided a novel strategy to improve the fire safety and cost of PP, and wide the applications of lignin.
Photocatalytic and antimicrobial efficacy of PVDF/TiO2 membranes fabricated by solution blow spinning
Authors: Padovani Guilherme Schiavão , Sanches Alex Otávio , Moura Aouada Márcia Regina , Malmonge Luiz Francisco , de Paula Fernando Rogério 
Published: October 2023

AbstractWith its ability to purify water and treat wastewater, photocatalytic membranes have become a promising solution. The membrane's unique properties allow for the separation of solid compounds and the degradation of organic materials through photocatalytic and antibacterial means. Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/titanium oxide (PVDF/TiO2) composite remain the materials of choice for making these membranes due to their economy, effectiveness, safety, and durability. In this work a photocatalytic membrane reactor (PMR) system was developed using PVDF/TiO2 membranes fabricated by the solution blow spinning (SBS) process. Obtaining photocatalytic membranes using this method is an efficient and ecological route that overcomes the disadvantage of separating the photocatalyst after the treatment is complete. The results of PMR system showed that the PVDF/TiO2 membrane could effectively remove total coliforms and E. coli from polluted water. After 10 min of contaminated water circulation through the PMR system, the presence of pathogens was not detected, indicating the efficiency of the obtained membranes.
Synergistic Effect of Chiral Metasurface and Hot Carrier Injection Enabling Manipulation of Valley Polarization of WSe2 at Room Temperature
Authors: Chen Zefeng , Shen Fuhuan , Zhang Zhenghe , Wu Kai , Jin Yuxuan , Long Mingzhu , Wang Shaojun , Xu Jianbing 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe unique band structure of monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC) provides an important platform for spintronic and valleytronic devices. Various approaches, such as in‐plane electric field and out‐of‐plane magnetic field, have been proposed to actively control the valley polarization. In this work, we propose a synergistic effect involving chiral near‐field interactions and hot carrier injection to actively control the valley polarization emission of WSe2 at room temperature (RT). The degree of valley polarization is enhanced from near zero (for pure WSe2) to 20% under non‐resonant optical excitation (532 nm) when monolayer WSe2 is coupled with the chiral near field of plasmonic metasurface. More importantly, the application of near‐infrared light (wavelength of 970 to 1600 nm) illumination further enhances the valley polarization from 20% to 30%, which is attributed to plasmonic‐induced hot carrier injection from the metasurface to WSe2. The synergistic effect of the chiral near field and infrared light pumping offers another strategy to manipulate the valley polarization emission in monolayer TMDs at room temperature, paving the way for future applications of opto‐valleytronic/spintronic devices based on these 2D materials.