bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of graphene pull‐out on the interfacial mechanical properties of alumina/graphene nanocomposite ceramic tool materials: Molecular dynamics analysis and material preparation
Authors: Lu Peishuai , Chen Hui , Zhang Jingjie , Xiao Guangchun , Yi Mingdong , Chen Zhaoqiang , Xu Chonghai 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe interfacial mechanical properties of the alumina/graphene (Al2O3/GR) nanocomposite ceramic tool materials were studied by molecular dynamic simulations. The effects of pull‐out velocity of graphene, system temperature, vacancy defect, and wrinkled graphene on the interfacial mechanical properties were investigated. Results show that a large interfacial shear stress (382 MPa) exists between the Al2O3/GR interface. The maximum pull‐out force and interfacial shear stress increase with increasing graphene pull‐out velocity. The increase of temperature reduces the maximum pull‐out force and interfacial shear stress. Moreover, the load transfer capacity is reduced and the creep of the matrix occurs. These factors reduce the fracture toughness of the Al2O3/GR nanocomposites. A moderate amount of vacancy defects in graphene increases the interfacial pull‐out force and shear stress of Al2O3/GR nanocomposite ceramic tool. Compared with Al2O3/GR nanocomposite ceramic tools, the interfacial interaction energy and shear stress of pleated graphene and Al2O3 were increased by 13.87% and 41.08% respectively, with better toughening and reinforcement. The results are of significance in further understanding of the interfacial mechanical properties at the nanoscale and then beneficial to improve the mechanical properties and engineering performance of Al2O3/GR composite ceramic materials.
Facile preparation of In2O3–In2S3 core–shell composites for the enhanced photoelectric activity
Authors: Sun Zhao‐Wei , Shih Li‐An , Tseng Wenjea J. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThis study examines In2S3 concentration to the photo‐induced current density of particulate In2O3–In2S3 composite heterostructures under visible light irradiation. A self‐templated approach involving hydrothermal sulfidation of In2O3 nanofibers with thioacetamide (TAA) in water produces the In2O3–In2S3 core–shell structure at a moderate temperature. The In2S3 fraction is readily tunable by adjusting the TAA concentration. Incorporating In2S3 (45–82 wt.%) leads to a decreased bandgap from 3.1 to ca. 2.3 eV, enabling the harvest of partial visible‐light energy to create charged carriers efficiently. The photocurrent is particularly pronounced when the In2O3–In2S3 composites consist of 45 wt.% In2S3, to which the photocurrent intensity is more significant than 0.1 mA⋅cm−2 at 0.8 V in 0.1 M Na2SO4 solution compared to less than 0.01 mA⋅cm−2 for the rest of the In2O3–In2S3 counterparts. This is attributable to the enhanced electron–hole separation at the semiconducting heterojunction and the more efficient use of the light spectrum due to the narrowing bandgap.
Victim of Its Own Success (?) – The European Union's Anti‐corruption Policy Advice in Ukraine Between Grand Visions and (Geo)political Realities
Authors: Richter Michael Martin 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe European Union's (EU) external governance enjoys significant attention in the literature. Yet its outcomes are usually assessed with reference to strategic documents or scholars' self‐designed criteria. This article contributes to the ongoing debate with a discourse analysis focusing on the perceptions of anti‐corruption reform outcomes in Ukraine by actors on different levels in the EU. Simultaneously, structural factors are incorporated into the analysis. It demonstrates that although constant progress is officially proclaimed by the EU, even technical advisers disagree on how success in this crucial domain is understood and how to measure it. High‐level representatives face a balancing act between conditionality demands, sovereignty limitations and geopolitical considerations. This explains the official signalling by the EU and the development of its rule‐of‐law reform conditionality. The outcome is a potential state of moral hazard and raise the question whether EU external governance has not become a victim of its ‘own success’.
Racial discrimination and romantic relationship dynamics among Black Americans: A systematic review
Authors: Rice TeKisha M. , Jenkins August I. C. , Smith Shardé McNeil , Alexander Chelsea , McGregor Casey M. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractDespite increasing research, the links between racial discrimination and Black Americans' romantic relationship dynamics remain unclear. Guided by models of mundane extreme environmental stress (Peters & Massey, 1983), sociocultural family stress (McNeil Smith & Landor, 2018), and Black marital outcomes (Bryant et al., 2010), we conducted a systematic review of the literature examining racial discrimination and relationship dynamics among Black Americans in same‐race and interracial romantic relationships. Synthesizing findings from 32 published empirical articles, we find support for manifestations of each component of MEES in Black intimate life. We uncover evidence that racial discrimination is associated with compromised relationship functioning for Black Americans. Several psychosocial resources were also identified as either buffering these associations or posing drawbacks/limitations for Black Americans. We discuss notable gaps in the literature and directions for future research including intersectional investigations, broader examination of the MEES context, and de‐centering whiteness among studies of interracial relationship dynamics.
The effect of heat‐killed Lactobacillus brevis SBL88 on improving selective hepatic insulin resistance in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease mice without altering the gut microbiota
Authors: Hayashi Hidemi , Sawada Koji , Tanaka Hiroki , Muro Kazuki , Hasebe Takumu , Nakajima Shunsuke , Okumura Toshikatsu , Fujiya Mikihiro 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackground and AimThere have been several reports that some probiotics improve non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, many studies have involved cocktail therapies. We evaluated whether heat‐killed Lactobacillus brevis SBL88 (L. brevis SBL88) monotherapy improves the clinical features of NAFLD.MethodsThe NAFLD model was induced in mice fed a high‐fat diet (HFD) (HFD mice) or HFD + 1% heat‐killed L. brevis SBL88 (SBL mice) for 16 weeks. Histopathological liver findings were analyzed. To evaluate the gut microbiota, a modified terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the feces was performed. RNA sequencing in the liver was performed with Ion Proton™. To investigate the direct effects of heat‐killed L. brevis SBL88, an in vitro study was performed.ResultsHistopathological findings revealed that fat droplets in the liver were significantly reduced in SBL mice; however, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism did not show alterations in the gut microbiota between HFD mice and SBL mice. RNA sequencing and pathway analysis revealed that the regulation of lipid and insulin metabolism was affected. The mRNA expression of insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS‐2) was significantly higher in SBL mice, whereas the expression of IRS‐1 was not significantly different. Phospho‐IRS‐2 expression was also significantly increased in SBL mice. In addition, an in vitro study revealed significant alterations in IRS‐2 and forkhead box protein O1 expression levels.ConclusionSBL mice exhibited partially improved selective hepatic insulin resistance. Our data suggest that heat‐killed L. brevis SBL88 could attenuate the clinical features of NAFLD that are not mediated by alterations in the gut microbiota.
Effect of white pepper addition on the sensory perception of sodium‐reduced soup with an emphasis on saltiness perception
Authors: Moss Rachael , LeBlanc Jeanne , Ritchie Christopher , Gorman Mackenzie , Ettinger Laurel , McSweeney Matthew B. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractChemical irritants, like piperine in pepper, have been identified to have cross‐modal interactions, including increasing the perception of saltiness. Processed foods have used cross‐modal interactions (e.g., odor and taste) to improve acceptability of salt‐reduced foods. Cross‐modal interactions between piperine and taste could be applied to increase consumer perception of saltiness in low‐sodium food products. As such the objective of this study was to determine how the addition of white pepper to low‐sodium soup affects its' sensory perception. First, the aroma detection threshold (n = 60) of white pepper was determined. Then white pepper (at detection threshold) was added to a low‐sodium soup and evaluated using hedonic scales, general labeled magnitude scale for saltiness, check‐all‐that‐apply (CATA), and temporal check‐all‐that‐apply (TCATA; n = 76). The results indicated that the saltiness intensity increased with the addition of white pepper based on the results of the general labeled magnitude scale; however, this result was not confirmed using CATA or TCATA. Rather peppery, bitterness, sourness, and strong aftertaste attributes dominated the participants' perception of the soup. The addition of white pepper also decreased the participants' overall liking of the soup as well as their liking of the flavor and texture. Future research should continue to investigate the cross‐modal interactions of white pepper.Practical ApplicationThe food industry is acting in response to consumer concerns by reducing the salt content in their foods. Despite being a positive initiative for human health, a reduction in the salt content of foods can yield a reduction in sensory appeal and flavor intensity. This study investigated the use of white pepper to increase the saltiness perception of low‐sodium soup. The results indicated that white pepper added bitterness and strong aftertaste to the soup while simultaneously suppressing other flavors. This study also found that white pepper decreased the acceptability of the soup and indicated that white pepper may not be an ingredient that can mitigate the reduction in salt in food products.
Time‐intensity data analysis in terms of R‐index measures transformed from menopause rating scale data collected in a longitudinal menopause tablet perceptual efficacy study
Authors: Kuesten Carla , Bi Jian , Zanetti Holiday Durham , Dang Jennifer 
Published: August 2023

AbstractA 12‐week longitudinal study with 247 US menopausal women was undertaken to investigate the perceptual efficacy of a tablet formulated with an extract of Siberian rhubarb to provide relief from menopausal symptoms. The 5‐point menopause rating scale (MRS) (0 = none; 1 = mild; 2 = moderate; 3 = severe; 4 = extremely severe) was used to measure symptom intensity. The MRS scale, an ordinal categorical scale, was transformed into an R‐index, a ratio scale, using the frequencies of the MRS categories. Symptom relief was compared to an initial week baseline measure; defined as R‐index = 0.5. An index, A.RDEX, which is based on area under the R‐index curve (AUC) in the range of 0–84 days was used to measure percentage efficacy of symptom relief. Results show that symptom relief occurs through the first 17 days in terms of R‐index = 0.64 for the total score and improves with continued use, reaching an A.RDEX = 0.42 by 84 days, suggesting about 42% relief considering all 11 MRS attributes.Practical ApplicationsMRS ratings data can be transformed into an R‐index using MRS category frequencies at an initial week and a subsequent week. Functional data analysis for R‐index values provides an advanced statistical model for analysis of perceptual differences throughout longitudinal studies that can examine MRS attribute effects over time. R codes are developed and provided in the paper to transform MRS data into R‐index measures and to conduct functional data analysis for R‐index measures obtained from different time points (weeks or days).
Male and Female Laboratory Rats Equally Acquire Running‐Based Flavor‐Aversion Learning1
Authors: Nakajima Sadahiko , Li Mengwei 
Published: August 2023

AbstractLaboratory rats can be conditioned to shy away from a flavored substance consumed immediately before running in activity wheels, suggesting flavor‐aversion learning. We examined whether the factor of sex impacted running‐based flavor‐aversion learning. A differential conditioning procedure was employed in Experiment 1: The measure of learning was the degree of differentiation in the intake of a target flavor solution paired with running and an unpaired non‐target flavor solution. Flavor‐aversion learning was observed as a gradual decrease in the intake of the target solution, which was absent in that of the non‐target solution. Although females ran more than twice as fast as males, the degree of differential conditioning was similar for males and females. This was the case not only for absolute intake but also for intake per body weight and change from the initial intake (percentage decrease). The null effect of sex was replicated in Experiment 2, which employed a simple conditioning procedure. These results suggest that rats’ running‐based flavor‐aversion learning is a robust phenomenon, despite the subjects being male or female.
Hidden functional complexity in the flora of an early land ecosystem
Authors: D'Ario Marco , Lane Brendan , Fioratti Junod Marco , Leslie Andrew , Mosca Gabriella , Smith Richard S. 
Published: August 2023

Summary
The first land ecosystems were composed of organisms considered simple in nature, yet the morphological diversity of their flora was extraordinary. The biological significance of this diversity remains a mystery largely due to the absence of feasible study approaches.
To study the functional biology of Early Devonian flora, we have reconstructed extinct plants from fossilised remains in silico. We explored the morphological diversity of sporangia in relation to their mechanical properties using finite element method. Our approach highlights the impact of sporangia morphology on spore dispersal and adaptation.
We discovered previously unidentified innovations among early land plants, discussing how different species might have opted for different spore dispersal strategies. We present examples of convergent evolution for turgor pressure resistance, achieved by homogenisation of stress in spherical sporangia and by torquing force in Tortilicaulis‐like specimens. In addition, we show a potential mechanism for stress‐assisted sporangium rupture. Our study reveals the deceptive complexity of this seemingly simple group of organisms.
We leveraged the quantitative nature of our approach and constructed a fitness landscape to understand the different ecological niches present in the Early Devonian Welsh Borderland flora. By connecting morphology to functional biology, these findings facilitate a deeper understanding of the diversity of early land plants and their place within their ecosystem.
Estimating the health burden of foodborne gastroenteritis caused by non‐typhoidal Salmonella enterica and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Zhejiang province, China
Authors: Chen Jiang , Alifu Xialidan , Qi Xiaojuan , Zhang Ronghua , Chen Lili , Wang Jikai , Yu Yunxian 
Published: August 2023

AbstractAs acute gastrointestinal (AGI) disease patients only sometimes seek medical care or submit stool samples for testing, and laboratories cannot detect or identify the pathogen, most cases of foodborne gastroenteritis still need to be identified through public health monitoring. We conducted a population survey and sentinel hospital surveillance to determine the burden of foodborne gastroenteritis caused by non‐typhoidal Salmonella enterica (NTS) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection, from July 2018 to June 2019 in Zhejiang province, China, and a model for calculating disease burden established. Using the burden of illness pyramid model, we estimated that there were 140.3 cases of NTS infection and 136.2 cases of V. parahaemolyticus infection. We estimated annual incidence per 100,000 population in Zhejiang province as 236 (95% confidence interval [CI] 208–267) and 206 (95% CI 155–232) cases for foodborne NTS and V. parahaemolyticus gastroenteritis, respectively. The results show that AGI caused by these two pathogens constitutes a substantial burden in the Zhejiang population. The health burden of AGI estimations caused by NTS and V. parahaemolyticus in this study can serve as a strategic framework to direct policy and intervention.
Welfare conditionality and policy contingencies of school‐allowance retractions in Sweden
Authors: Sandberg Johan , Fredholm Axel 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe article analyses policy contingencies and welfare conditionality of school allowances in Swedish upper‐secondary education. In contrast to most countries' use of positive incentives toward school attendance through added cash‐benefits for targeted students, Sweden employs sanctions on a universal study allowance that in essence constitutes an age‐extension of the universal child benefit. We analyse register data from 2012 to 2018 and find significant discrepancies in required school‐reporting when controlling for school populations and key official school‐parameters. These results indicate that negative conditioning through sanctions constitutes an often‐forfeited measure against the rather complex interplay of factors driving truancy, while enforcement of conditionality seems largely contingent upon schools' different reporting strategies and processes. We identify a set of veto points whereby school officials may opt not to enforce conditionality, and further problematize additional findings that the overwhelming majority of students with retracted allowances fail to return to school and complete their educational cycles on time. Our findings contribute to ongoing research on welfare conditionality, hitherto largely dominated by studies on labour market activation policies and social services.
Combining ground penetrating radar methodologies enables large‐scale mapping of soil horizon thickness and bulk density in boreal forests
Authors: Gates Zachary W. , Galagedara Lakshman W. , Ziegler Susan E. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractForest soil properties must be observed with the appropriate resolution by depth and landscape area to understand biogeomorphological controls on soil carbon (C). These observations, particularly in boreal forests, have been limited because of the poor resolution and unavailability of physical soil sampling results, especially for soil bulk density measurements. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) has been demonstrated to non‐destructively and continuously estimate forest soil properties required in Cstock estimates, such as soil horizon thickness and soil bulk density, across small spatial scales and shallow depths. Yet, successful small‐scale forest GPR approaches represent a potential opportunity to obtain soil property estimates at relevant resolution and depth across forest landscapes, enabling improvement to much needed soil mapping and stock estimates. This review discusses the existing soil property studies that utilize ground penetrating radar (GPR) and explores how the adaptation of GPR methodology can contribute to investigating soils in forest landscapes. We have identified common GPR surveying practices, data processing steps and interpretation methods employed in multiple studies. These approaches have proven effective in obtaining higher‐resolution estimates of important soil properties, such as bulk density and horizon thickness, within small‐scale forest plots. By applying relevant findings in this review to our own boreal forest investigation across an 80 m hillslope transect, we provide recommendations on how to tailor GPR methodology for landscape‐scale estimates of soil horizon thickness and bulk density to examine forest soil property distribution. These findings should enable the future collection of soil datasets informing the distribution of soil C stocks and their relationship to landscape features, and thus their controls and responses to climate and environmental change.
Management of a contaminated mine soil: Effect of soil water content on antimony and arsenic immobilisation by iron‐based amendments and biochar composites
Authors: Zarzsevszkij Szimona , Vítková Martina , Zelená Pospíšková Kristýna , Kolařík Jan , Böserle Hudcová Barbora , Jurkovič Ľubomír 
Published: August 2023

AbstractAlteration of wet and dry periods affects soil geochemical properties that drive contaminant availability and mobility. Consequently, the efficiency of soil remediation may vary, and thus soil management needs to consider these variations. This study reveals the effect of soil moisture manipulation on the behaviour of the toxic metalloids antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) and the immobilisation efficiency of nanoscale zero‐valent iron (nZVI), biochar (BC) and BC modified by iron or iron/ferrous sulphide (nZVI‐BC and Fe/FeS‐BC). Soil samples from an abandoned Sb mining site were tested under laboratory conditions. Two distinct (organic and mineral) soil layers were incubated with each of the amendments (2% w/w application rate) at 50% and 100% water holding capacity (WHC) of the soils for 10 weeks, and subsequently extracted with demineralised water and rainwater. The immobilisation efficiency of the tested amendments was significantly influenced by the different soil moisture regimes and type of contaminant. Sorption onto secondary Fe minerals was the dominant Sb/As immobilizing mechanism. The iron‐based amendments showed up to 97% efficiency for Sb and up to 96% for As. However, Sb/As release was generally higher at 100% WHC and in the rainwater extracts compared to the other conditions, indicating that heavy rainfall and flooding of soils in‐situ may increase contaminant availability and mobility. In the organic layer, enhanced formation and leaching of metalloid‐DOC complexes and sorption competition of the negatively charged Sb/As species and DOC can be expected. Also, reductive dissolution of Sb or As‐bearing metal oxides could lead to the observed higher Sb/As release under flooded conditions, resulting in exacerbated environmental and health risks. Therefore, it is crucial to (1) improve the sorption characteristics of the tested amendments and/or develop other effective amendments for Sb/As immobilisation in different water regimes in soil; (2) test the amendments under real field conditions to evaluate the long term wet/dry exposure; and (3) develop proper risk assessment and soil remediation strategy for the study area and similar sites.