bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Verification of the behaviour factors proposed in the second generation of Eurocode 8 for cross‐laminated timber buildings
Authors: Rinaldi Vincenzo , Casagrande Daniele , Fragiacomo Massimo 
Published: December 2022

AbstractAfter 20 years since the publication of the Eurocodes, in 2012, the European Commission gave mandate to the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) to develop a second generation of Eurocodes. Among the different parts of Eurocodes, a substantial revision process has been undertaken for the seismic design rules of timber buildings included in Eurocode 8 (EC8). In particular, a major effort has been made to implement the design rules for Cross‐Laminated Timber (CLT) buildings and to define the behaviour factors q for such structural type. The choice of the behaviour factor q for CLT buildings in the new “timber” chapter of EC8 has been made by examining several proposals available in literature. Most of these studies were not referred to any specific design provision and certainly could not have followed the design rules drafted in the second generation of Eurocodes. This paper presents a study aimed to verify whether the proposed values of the behaviour factors q are consistent with the attained seismic performances of CLT buildings designed in accordance with the new “timber chapter” of EC8. Parametric non‐linear static (pushover) analyses and a risk‐consistent approach, based on the use of Incremental Dynamic Analyses (IDA) and fragility curves were conducted to evaluate the performance of a few selected archetypes. The results obtained from the analyses and the risk‐consistent approach showed that the proposed values of q‐factor for CLT buildings in second generation of Eurocode, namely 2.30 and 3.20 for a ductility class 2 (DC2) and 3 (DC3) respectively, can be reasonably accepted.
Protecting Health after Dobbs
Authors: Clark Brietta R. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractIn Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the Supreme Court eliminated the long‐standing federal constitutional right to abortion. Discussions of Dobbs tend to emphasize the loss of protection for reproductive choice. But Dobbs also eroded protection for a related yet distinctly important interest that served under Roe v. Wade as a check on government regulation of reproduction: the preservation of health. This erasure has opened the door to increasingly restrictive and punitive abortion bans, which are causing providers to deny or delay care that is necessary to prevent harm to both pregnant and nonpregnant patients. Federal regulatory attempts to prevent these harms will have limited impact, partially due to Congress's own history of exceptionalizing abortion in ways that devalue health. Only federal legislation can ensure adequate and enduring protection for the health of women, trans men, and other patients targeted for reproductive control because of their capacity for pregnancy.
Exploring the Ethics of the Parental Role in Parent‐Clinician Conflict
Authors: Moore Bryanna , McDougall Rosalind 
Published: December 2022

AbstractIn pediatric health care, parents and clinicians sometimes have competing ideas of what should be done for a child. In this article, we explore the idea that notions of what should be done for a child partly depend on one's perception of one's role in the child's life and care. Although role‐based appeals are common in health care, role‐differentiated approaches to understanding parent‐clinician conflicts are underexplored in the pediatric bioethics literature. We argue that, while the parental role is recognized as having social content or value, and sometimes legal force, it is not always recognized as having ethical content or value, as the clinician's role is. We draw together key insights from the normative and empirical literature on parental roles to show how a role‐based lens might inform clinicians’ and clinical ethicists’ approach to cases in which parents and clinicians disagree.
Spin‐Filtering in a p‐Orbital Helical Atomic Chain
Authors: Utsumi Yasuhiro , Kato Takemitsu , Entin‐Wohlman Ora , Aharony Amnon 
Published: December 2022

AbstractWe theoretically analyze spin filtering in two‐terminal systems, induced by the spin‐orbit interaction (SOI), as a possible origin of the “chirality‐induced spin selectivity” (CISS) effect observed experimentally in chiral molecules, such as DNA. Due to Bardarson's theorem, spin filtering cannot be realized in a molecule containing one orbital‐channel. However, when two orbitals are involved, SOI can induce spin filtering in a molecule coupled to two terminals without braking time‐reversal symmetry. In particular, we provide an example of a
reflection matrix for a spinful electron passing through a molecule containing two orbital‐channels, which complies with Bardarson's theorem and produces a finite spin conductance. As a microscopic toy model realizing a single strand of DNA, we consider a p‐orbital helical atomic chain with intra‐atomic SOI's and a strong crystalline field along the helix. This model exhibits two‐orbital spin filtering: For various parameters preserving the helical symmetry, the model hosts spin asymmetric states carrying pairs of up and down spins propagating in opposite directions. The typical energy scale of the helical states is the product of the intra‐atomic SOI and the curvature. The spin filtering mechanism is associated with the intra‐atomic SOI, which would be larger than the inter‐atomic SOI. In this respect, the present model may be a more likely candidate for the CISS in organic material than other models associated with the inter‐atomic SOI.
Comparison of photocatalytic and antibacterial activities of allotropes of graphene doped Sm2O3 nanocomposites: Optical, thermal, and structural studies
Authors: Javaid Arooj , Farrukh Muhammad Akhyar 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThis study mainly focuses on the synthesis of two allotropes of graphene, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), by the modified Hummers' method and chemical reduction method, respectively. Sm2O3/GO and Sm2O3/rGO nanocomposites were further synthesized in the presence of the cationic surfactant CTAB via the sol–gel method followed by the reflux method. Synthesized nanocomposites were subjected to characterization by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and UV–Visible spectroscopy to explore structural, thermal, optical, and photocatalytic properties. Characteristic FTIR peaks were observed in nanocomposites, and the bond length of the Sm‐O bond was calculated. The Coats‐Redfern method was employed to calculate the kinetics and thermodynamic parameters. Hexagonal crystallite shapes of Sm2O3/GO and Sm2O3/rGO nanocomposites with 11.8 and 13.13 nm crystallite sizes and 3.9 and 2.5 eV optical band gaps were observed. The photocatalytic efficiency of Sm2O3/GO and Sm2O3/rGO nanocomposites was assessed against the degradation of methylene blue in the presence of sunlight, and its degradation was confirmed through FTIR. The antimicrobial activities were also performed against the bacterial strains Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus.
Stimulated emission cross sections and temperature‐dependent spectral shifts of neutral nitrogen‐vacancy centers in diamonds
Authors: Yang Teng‐I , Azuma Terumitsu , Huang Yu‐Wen , Hui Yuen Yung , Chiang Cheng‐Tien , Chang Huan‐Cheng 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe neutral nitrogen‐vacancy (NV0) defects in diamond are photostable color centers, suitable for a wide range of applications in science and engineering. However, the photophysical properties of the centers have not yet been fully characterized. This work measured the stimulated emission cross sections of NV0 in a single‐crystal diamond by two‐photon excitation of its matrix at 344 nm. From the measured photoluminescence spectrum and the fluorescence lifetime of 20 ± 1 ns, we determined a peak stimulated emission cross section of 1.43 ± 0.07 × 10−17 cm2 at 650 nm for the NV0 centers. In addition, we have also examined the thermal shifts of the zero‐phonon line of NV0 centers in nanoscale diamonds (~100 nm in diameter) over the temperature range of 30–120°C. A temperature measurement sensitivity of 0.2 K·Hz−1/2 was achieved, which is about two‐fold better than that of NV−, despite that the fluorescence intensity of NV0 is about six‐fold lower than that of NV− in the same nanoparticles. The result is attributed to the smaller electron–phonon coupling strength of the neutral center, compared with its negatively charged counterpart.
Palmitic acid methyl ester induces cardiac hypertrophy through activating the GPR receptor‐mediated changes of intracellular calcium concentrations and mitochondrial functions
Authors: Lien Chih‐Feng , Chiu Hung‐Wen , Lee Wen‐Sen , Lin Jian‐Hong , Wang Yi‐Shun , Ting Pei‐Ching , Luo Yu‐Po , Chang Jui‐Chih , Yang Kun‐Ta 
Published: December 2022

AbstractMyocardial hypertrophy is associated with a significant increase in intracellular Ca2+, which can be induced by long‐chain fatty acid. Palmitic acid methyl ester (PAME), a fatty acid ester released from adipose tissue, superior cervical ganglion, and retina, has been found to have anti‐inflammation, antifibrosis, and peripheral vasodilation effects. However, the effects of PAME on cardiomyocytes are still unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether PAME could disrupt the intracellular Ca2+ balance, leading to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were treated with various concentrations (10–100 μM) of PAME for 1–4 days. Cytosolic Ca2+ and mitochondrial Ca2+ concentrations were examined using Fura‐2 AM and Rhod‐2, respectively. After treatment with PAME for 4 days, mitochondrial Ca2+, an indicator of the state of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), and cell death were monitored by flow cytometric analysis. ATP levels were detected using the ATP assay kit. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was analyzed by measuring the cardiac hypertrophy biomarker and cell area using quantitative real time‐polymerase chain reaction, Western Blot analysis and immunofluorescence analysis. Our results show that PAME concentration‐ and time‐dependently increased cytosolic and mitochondria Ca2+ through the mitochondrial calcium uniporter. Moreover, treatment with PAME for 4 days caused MPTP opening, thereby reducing ATP production and enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and finally led to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. These effects caused by PAME treatment were attenuated by the G‐protein coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) inhibitor. In conclusion, PAME impaired mitochondrial function, which in turn led to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through increasing the mitochondrial Ca2+ levels mediated by activating the GPR40 signaling pathway.
Evolutionary adaptation of bovine coronavirus (BCoV): Screening of natural recombinations across the complete genomes
Authors: Bahoussi Amina N. , Shah Pir T. , Guo Yan‐Yan , Liu Yue , Wu Changxin , Xing Li 
Published: December 2022

AbstractBovine coronavirus (BCoV) is a member of pathogenic Betacoronaviruses that has been circulating for several decades in multiple host species. Given the similarity between BCoV and human coronaviruses, the current study aimed to review the complete genomes of 107 BCoV strains available on the GenBank database, collected between 1983 and 2017 from different countries. The maximum‐likelihood based phylogenetic analysis revealed three main BCoV genogroups: GI, GII, and GIII. GI is further divided into nine subgenogroups: GI‐a to GI‐i. The GI‐a to GI‐d are restricted to Japan, and GI‐e to GI‐i to the USA. The evolutionary relationships were also inferred using phylogenetic network analysis, revealing two major distinct networks dominated by viruses identified in the USA and Japan, respectively. The USA strains‐dominated Network Cluster includes two sub‐branches: France/Germany and Japan/China in addition to the United States, while Japan strains‐dominated Network Cluster is limited to Japan. Twelve recombination events were determined, including 11 intragenogroup (GI) and one intergenogroup (GII vs. GI‐g). The breakpoints of the recombination events were mainly located in ORF1ab and the spike glycoprotein ORF. Interestingly, 10 of 12 recombination events occurred between Japan strains, one between the USA strains, and one from intercontinental recombination (Japan vs. USA). These findings suggest that geographical characteristics, and population density with closer contact, might significantly impact the BCoV infection and co‐infection and boost the emergence of more complex virus lineages.
On the double‐robustness and semiparametric efficiency of matching‐adjusted indirect comparisons
Authors: Cheng David , Tchetgen Eric Tchetgen , Signorovitch James 
Published: December 2022

AbstractMatching‐adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) enables indirect comparisons of interventions across separate studies when individual patient‐level data (IPD) are available for only one study. Due to its similarity with propensity score weighting, it has been speculated that MAIC can be combined with outcome regression models in the spirit of augmented inverse probability weighting estimators to improve robustness and efficiency. We show that MAIC enjoys intrinsic double‐robustness and semiparametric efficiency properties for estimating the average treatment effect on the treated in the limited IPD setting without explicit augmentation. A connection between MAIC and the method of simulated treatment comparisons is highlighted. These results clarify conditions under which MAIC is consistent and efficient, informing appropriate application and interpretation of MAIC analyses.
Wetland occupancy by duck broods in cropland‐dominated landscapes of the United States Prairie Pothole Region
Authors: Mitchell Blake J. , Terry Catrina V. , Ringelman Kevin M. , Kemink Kaylan M. , Anteau Michael J. , Janke Adam K. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) is globally important for breeding waterfowl but has been altered via wetland drainage and grassland conversion to accommodate agricultural land use. Thus, understanding the ecology of waterfowl in these highly modified landscapes is essential for their conservation. Brood occurrence is the cumulative outcome of key life‐history events including pair formation and territory establishment, nest success, and early brood survival. We applied new technological advances in brood surveying methods to understand brood use of wetlands and how land use and wetland‐specific factors influenced brood use of 413 wetlands in crop‐dominated landscapes in the PPR of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, USA, during summers of 2018–2020. Dynamic occupancy models combining information from 2 visits throughout the year revealed no difference among the 4 states or between private and public lands, resulting in a region‐wide annual wetland occupancy estimate of 0.41 (95% credible interval [CrI] = 0.26, 0.58). We assessed aquatic invertebrate forage availability, wetland and upland vegetation communities, and various water chemistry metrics in a subset (n = 225) of these wetlands to evaluate how landscape and wetland‐specific factors influenced occupancy. The amount of grassland surrounding wetlands was the only variable to influence occupancy at a landscape scale, while wetland size, invertebrates, fish, and vegetation communities influenced occupancy at finer scales. Closer scrutiny of wetland area revealed occupancy was greater in small wetlands after controlling for total wetland area. Our results indicate the greatest constraint on brood occupancy across crop‐dominated landscapes of the PPR in the United States was the occurrence of semipermanent wetlands suitable for brood rearing. Other factors, such as wetland vegetation or surrounding land use, had minor intervening influences on duck brood use and ducks were distributed invariant of wetland ownership or broad spatial processes occurring among states. These results demonstrated wetland conservation and restoration strategies are likely to yield gains in annual duck broods across this vast, altered, and highly modified landscape.
Management of the maintenance process in social housing: A case study
Authors: Corallo Angelo , Lazoi Mariangela , Malagnino Ada , Mangia Mattia , Mangialardi Giovanna , Sarcinella Marco Lucio 
Published: December 2022

AbstractDigital transformation of private and public entities is a process strongly encouraged by the European Commission. The social housing sector, which provides long‐term housing or subsidies for vulnerable households, struggles to reach a good digitalization level and needs specific solutions that address its technical, financial, and administrative peculiarities. Indeed, the social housing sector often faces issues related to insufficient available funds that can be used for optimizing assets' maintenance operations, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of building occupants with better management of financial resources. Furthermore, it is not a widely explored area by the research community. To provide digital solutions for innovating the management of the property assets and, specifically, the maintenance activities for social housing, the paper presents a case study from the Italian social housing system. Current available processes, data, and information systems are explored to propose a solution for the visualization and management of collected data at the provincial, municipality, and building levels. The main purpose is to support decision makers for maintenance activities. Scholars and practitioners in this research field can benefit from the proposed solution to lead actions for the digital transition of the social housing sector.
Desertification vulnerability under accelerated dryland expansion
Authors: Sun Chuanlian , Feng Xiaoming , Fu Bojie , Ma Shijun 
Published: December 2022

AbstractGiven accelerated dryland expansion, studies on aridity‐driven desertification are of great importance for advancing our understanding of land degradation mechanisms and developing possible mitigation measures. However, the mechanism by which increased aridity drives ecosystems toward desertification and the impacts of aridity on desertification vulnerability both in space and over time remain unclear. Here, we collected eight key ecosystem structure/functioning data (including soil, vegetation, and animal) for threshold identification using piecewise linear models, and then linked them to biome shifts to explore the process of aridity‐driven desertification. The results show that ecosystems along aridity index (AI, 1 − precipitation/potential evapotranspiration) gradients experience three vulnerable stages featuring different threshold and biome responses: a low vulnerability stage (AI: 0.5–0.65; mainly featuring a soil fertility loss and a forest decline), a moderate vulnerability stage (AI: 0.65–0.75; mainly featuring accelerated non‐forest vegetation degradation) and a high vulnerability stage (AI: 0.75–1; mainly featuring rapid overall land degradation). According to further simulations, areas with low to high vulnerability account for 31% of the global terrestrial area, which is projected to increase by 18.8% (21.2%) by the end of the 21st century under the greenhouse gas emission scenario SSP2‐4.5 (SSP3‐7.0). Given increased vulnerability and population growth, Africa and East Asia are exposed to great desertification risk and ensuing contradiction between humans and land. These findings can provide a theoretical and practical reference for ecosystem management and policy development, which are critical for dryland ecological security and human welfare in areas threatened by desertification.
Effects of straw returning and nitrogen addition on soil quality of a coastal saline soil: A field study of four consecutive wheat‐maize cycles
Authors: Yang Hongjun , Xia Jiangbao , Xie Wenjun , Wei Shoucai , Cui Qian , Shao Pengshuai , Sun Jingkuan , Dong Kaikai , Qi Xingchao 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe effects of different straw returning and nitrogen addition levels on soil quality are important for proper coastal saline soil remediation. However, relatively little is understood concerning the remediation effects, especially, on long‐term effects and mineral composition and microstructures of coastal saline soil. Two maize/wheat straw returning levels [1.0 × 104 kg ha−1(2S) and 5.0 × 103 kg ha−1(S)] and three inorganic nitrogen addition levels [300 kg ha−1(N2), 150 kg ha−1(N) and 75 kg ha−1(N1/2)]—were studied, with 150 kg ha−1inorganic nitrogen and without straw addition treatment as the control (CK), to elucidate the response of soil physical and chemical properties to the two factors. After four consecutive wheat‐maize cycles, different straw and N fertilizer treatments obviously decreased the salinity contents, increased the total nutrient contents, and optimized the soil structure of the saline soil. The saline soil reclamation effects showed significant distinctions among the different straw and N fertilizer treatments. The 2SN2 treatment displayed the greatest effects in regard to reducing salinity, increasing the total soil nutrient contents and optimizing the soil structure, which resulted in the best remediation effect. Straw returning plays a major role in decreasing soil salinity and enhancing saline soil aggregate formation. N fertilizer addition supplies rich nutrients for straw decomposition, and promotes soil microbial growth and reproduction, which brought about C sequestration in coastal saline soil. During the coastal saline soil remediation process in the Yellow River Delta, it is suggested to prioritize straw returning and moderate N fertilizer addition, and live together with moderate P fertilizer application.
Distribution and stability of Mn complexes in the ocean: Influence of hydrothermal plumes and weather events
Authors: Thibault de Chanvalon Aubin , Luther George W. , Oldham Véronique E. , Tebo Bradley M. , Coffey Nicole R. , Shaw Timothy F. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractWe measured the speciation of dissolved Mn from the surface to just above the hydrothermal vents at 9°50′N East Pacific Rise in the open ocean of the Pacific over a 3‐week period. Total dissolved Mn concentrations ranged from 2.2 to 135 nmol L−1 with a significant contribution of dissolved Mn(III) bound to humic acid in one third of our samples representing up to 64% of the total dissolved Mn. These humic complexes were mostly detected in the hydrothermal vent plume and at the redox boundaries of the oxygen minimum zone in the water column. In the hydrothermal plume, the Mn(III)‐humic acid stabilized the manganese in solution up to a ~ 10,000‐fold dilution of the venting water. In the upper water column, Mn(III)‐humic acid was only detected after a squall and rain event, which indicates that it is a transient species, persistent over days to weeks. This temporal variability highlights the importance of non‐steady‐state processes in the open ocean, which may help to explain previous observations of a dissolved Mn maximum within oceanic oxygen minimum zones.